Al2O3/Ti/Ni composites, enhanced with the inclusion of NiAl2O4 and TiAl2O5
phases, represent a novel class of advanced materials with multifaceted
properties suitable for diverse engineering applications. Centrifugal slip
casting method was used for preparation of two series of gradient
Al2O3/Ti/Ni composite samples with different content of the metallic Ti and
Ni phases. Series I containing 0.5 vol.% of Ni and 0.5 vol.% of Ti and
Series II containing 2.5 vol.% of Ni and 2.5 vol.% of Ti. Each series
contained 55 vol.% of a solid phase. Rheological properties of the
suspensions as well as microstructure of the obtained composites were
studied, with special attention paid to the analysis of the formed spinel
phases. Both series in the green form were characterized by 3-zone structure
with different metallic phase content. The widths of individual zones for
the Series I and Series II, after sintering at 1450?C, were 0.53mm (zone
I), 3.26mm (zone II), 0.8mm (zone III) and 1.27mm (zone I), 1.47mm (zone
II), 1.87mm (zone III), respectively. The results showed that after
sintering two spinel phases were formed. The NiAl2O4 spinel phase consists
only of small grains with a size of approximately 1.3- 1.8 ?m, which form
larger clusters with or without a void inside. The TiAl2O5 phase consists of
grains with an average size of 4.3 to 4.5 ?m. The Life Cycle Assessment
analysis revealed that the values of the global warming potential indicator
in phase A1 are 0.16 kg and 0.20 kg equivalent of CO2 per sintered sample
for the Series I and Series II, respectively.