Monika Kašiarová

Scratch behaviour of graphene alumina nanocomposites

The scratch resistance behaviour of alumina-graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) (0.5, 2 and 5 vol.-%) composites was investigated using a Rockwell indenter with normal applied loads ranging from 1 to 200 N. The alumina-GNP composites behaved differently during scratch testing depending on the normal applied load. The coefficient of friction of the composites did not change much at low normal loads but increased with increasing amount of GNP in the alumina matrix for high normal loads. The addition of GNP contributed to improved scratch resistance of alumina nanocomposites only for low loads below ∼97 N. This correlates with the mechanical properties of the composites. As the applied load increased, the scratch resistance of the GNP composites decreased due to the presence of weakly bonded grain boundaries in the alumina matrix, which enhanced chipping of material.

Low Cost Si3N4/SiC Nanocomposites, Processing, RT and HT Properties

Silicon nitride - silicon carbide nanocomposite has been prepared by an in-situ method that utilizes formation of SiC nanograins by C+ SiO2 carbothermal reduction during the sintering process. The developed C/SiO2 derived nanocomposite consists of a silicon nitride matrix with an average Si3N4 matrix grain diameter of approximately 200 nm with inter- and intra- granular SiC inclusions with sizes of approximately 150 nm and 40 nm, respectively. The mean value of room temperature 4-point bending strength is 670 MPa with the Weibull modulus of 7.5 and indentation fracture toughness of 7.4 MPa.m1/2. The creep behaviour was investigated in bending at temperatures from 1200°C to 1450°C, under stresses ranking from 50 to 150 MPa in air. A significantly enhanced creep resistance was achieved by the incorporation of SiC nanoparticles into the matrix. The inserts machined from this composite have three times longer life time compared to those available on the market.

Local Mechanical Properties of Highly Porous Si3N4 for Trabecular Bone Replacement

The study deals with the development of highly porous undegradable ceramics based on silicon nitride as potential replacement of trabecular bone. These materials were produced using replication method with polyurethane foams as pore-forming agents to achieve similar porous structure to trabecular bone. Prepared porous ceramics had a bimodal pore structure with macro-pores larger than 200 μm and micro-pores smaller than 1 μm in diameter, which are necessary for tissue ingrowths, cell adhesion, adsorption of biological metabolites and nutrition delivery in organism. The microstructure and local mechanical properties (Young’s modulus and Yield strength) were evaluated and compared with human trabecular bone. Results showed that studied porous materials have satisfactory porosity and pore sizes for trabecular bone replacement. Young’s modulus of bone was 12.6 ± 2.23 GPa and porous silicon nitride samples ranged from 10.9 ± 3.38 GPa to 12.9 ± 1.13 GPa. The values of Yield strength of trabecular bone was determined as 493 ± 30.7 MPa and the values of porous samples varied from 250 ± 19.3 MPa to 558 ± 36.5 MPa. Young’s modulus and Yield strength increase with increasing of the pre-sintering temperature and multiple infiltrations.

Scratch Resistance of the Si3N4-Graphene Nanoplatelets Composites

The scratch resistance of the silicon nitride with the addition of 1 and 7 wt% of graphene multiplatelets prepared by hot press sintering has been studied. The scratch resistance behaviour of Si3N4-GNP composites were investigated using a Rockwell indenter for normal applied loads ranging from 1-150 N. Si3N4-7-wt%GNP composite behaved differently during the scratch test depending on the normal applied load. The coefficient of friction changed dramatically at higher load and extensive crack propagation resulting in the chipping is observed.

Corrosion Behavior of Human Teeth Measured by Nanoindentation Method

The decrease of the mechanical properties – hardness and reduced elastic modulus after corrosion in white wine was measured. Under static corrosion conditions no significant decrease was observed up to 8 hours of corrosion. Dynamic corrosion conditions cause detrimental decrease of properties (one order of magnitude) compare to the results of static corrosion test. This is due to the removal of the harder outer layer of the enamel during polishing. To obtain a relevant data concerning corrosion test, natural surface of a tooth should be investigated and tested.

Mechanical Properties of Porous Si3N4 Ceramics

Mechanical properties of porous silicon nitride prepared by two different processing routes have been studied. Depth sensing methods was used to measure the hardness and elastic modulus of experimental materials. The results were compared with the hardness and elastic modulus of trabecular bone in order to find out porous ceramics with properties close to that of trabecular bone. Material prepared by infiltration of polyurethane sponge exhibited properties close to the properties of bone and it is the potential material for further investigation in the bioapplication field.

Determination of Local Mechanical Properties of Si3N4 Based Foams

Local mechanical properties, particularly the hardness and Youngs modulus of highly porous silicon nitride based foams were studied in this work. Silicon nitride foams were prepared using polyurethane foam replication method to obtain appropriate cellular structure suitable for bio-application. Two types of the polyurethane foams were used (with average pore size 0.48 mm and 0.62 mm). Some of these samples were prepared by single or multiple infiltrations. The effects of structures, temperature of calcination, volume fraction of Si3N4 powder and number of the infiltrations on the local mechanical properties were investigated. The Youngs modulus of studied samples range from 12 to 46 GPa at the macroscopic scale measured by resonant frequency technique and from 10 to 28 GPa at the microscopic scale measured by instrumented indentation. Results showed increase of the hardness and Youngs modulus with increasing of the calcination temperature, with increasing of the number of infiltrations and also with increasing of volume fraction of Si3N4 powder in suspension. The results obtained from nanoindentation carry out lower values in comparison with the values measured by resonant frequency technique.

FRACTURE MECHANISM IN Si3N4 – GRAPHENE PLATELETS COMPOSITES

Silicon nitride + 1 wt% graphene platelet composites were prepared using various graphene platelets (GPLs) as a filler. Two different sintering routes were applied which resulted in different microstructure: hot isostatic pressing (1700°C/3h/20 MPa) and gas pressure sintering (1700°C/0h/2 MPa). The influence of the GPLs addition and of processing routes on the fracture toughness and fracture mechanism of Si 3 N 4 +GPLs was investigated. The main toughening mechanisms, which originated from the presence of the graphene platelets are crack deflection, crack branching and crack bridging . These mechanisms are responsible for the increase of fracture toughness which is higher than that of monolithic Si 3 N 4 . The highest value of fracture toughness was obtained in the case of the composite processed by hot isostatic pressing using the GPLs with lowest dimension.

The Influence of Corrosion in an Aqueous Solution of NaCl on Fracture and Strength of Various Structural Ceramics

The present work studies the corrosion of three most widely used types of structural ceramics – silicon nitride, solid state sintered alumina and liquid phase sintered alumina – in 3 % aqueous solutions of sodium chloride at temperatures up to 290 °C and pressures up to 7 MPa. The corrosion of silicon nitride was controlled by attack of Si3N4 matrix grains, while yttrium oxynitride amorphous grain boundary phase was corrosion resistant. Corrosion of Si3N4 in reference media -distilled water - at 290 °C was characteristic by formation of passivation layer, which hindered further dissolution of silicon nitride matrix. The presence of sodium chloride resulted in formation of discontinuous layer of corrosion products, resulting in more severe corrosion than in distilled water. The corrosion of liquid phase sintered alumina was mainly attributed to congruent dissolution of SiO2 and CaO from grain-boundary amorphous film, which was accelerated at higher temperature, and accompanied by precipitation of siliceous phases from oversaturated solution at 200 °C. Pure polycrystalline alumina corroded by loss of alumina grains, which did not dissolve in the corrosion media. The corrosion impaired significantly the fracture strength of silicon nitride, creating new, corrosion related defects at the surface, while the influence of corrosion on fracture strength of polycrystalline aluminas was negligible.

Contact and Bending Strength Tests of Ceramics: What is the Difference?

The paper deals with the determination of the characteristic strength and the Weibull modulus m of Si3N4 and SiC ceramic materials using conventional four-point bending and unconventional contact tests between opposite rollers and opposite spheres. Ceramographic and fractographic methods were used for the characterization of strength degrading defects represented by processing flaws and by cracks of different types arising during the loading. The processing flaws influenced the Weibull parameters mainly in the bending mode, and the strength and its scatter in contact modes was influenced by lateral, median and contact end cracks, originated during the contact test using rollers, and by cone cracks originated during the contact test using spheres.