The influence of Ti/Ni metallic phase content on the microstructure and environmental interactions of gradient Al2O3-based composites

Abstract

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.