Effect of silver nanoparticless in the structure and mechanical properties of mullite/Ag cermets

Abstract

The objective of this work was to study the influence of the addition of silver nanoparticles in the microstructure of mullite at two different temperatures of sintering (1500 and 1600°C), in order to decrease the porosity and increase the density as well better the hardness and fracture toughness. The microstructural characteristics were studied by scanning electron microscopy, confocal scanning microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Mullite/Ag cermets with homogenous microstructure were and a fracture toughness of 2.42 MPа·m1/2.

Keywords

• mullite
• confocal scanning microscopy
• scanning electron microscopy
• homogenous microstructure
• sintering