Date of Award

12-2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Legacy Department

Materials Science and Engineering

Committee Chair/Advisor

Skaar, Eric

Committee Member

Luo , Jian

Committee Member

Ballato , John

Abstract

Zirconia is one of the extensively studied solid oxide ceramics with respect to its use in various industrial applications like electrolyte in fuel cells, sensors, refractories and exhaust chamber in automobile industry. It can be found from the literature 1-4 that are contradictory results on the mechanical properties when alumina is added. There are several factors like microstructure, phase composition and method of processing that affects the mechanical properties of the material. The focus of this research is to examine how hardness, tensile strength and other properties varies with alumina content and deduce the optimal amount of alumina that is needed to maximize the properties of the composite. Using particle size analyzer the particle size of the powders used in preparing the composite is calculated. Diametral compression test yields tensile strength and hardness measurement is done using Vickers's hardness. Inference for the experimental results along with regression and correlation analysis was carried out to substantiate the results.

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