Fabrication and characterization of aluminium titanate and mullite added Porcelain ceramics

In this study, aluminium titanate (AT, Al2TiO5) and mullite (M, 3Al(2)O(3)center dot 2SiO(2)) ceramics were synthesized by reaction sintering from Al2O3, SiO2 and TiO2 powders which consisted of homogenization by wet ball milling followed by sintering AT and M in air at 1550 degrees C for 2 hrs and 1400 degrees C for 2 hrs, respectively. AT and M in different amounts (0 and 20 wt. %) were mixed with Porcelain (P). AT and M reinforced porcelain ceramics were prepared by the powder metallurgy route. After drying, the powders were compressed to preforms of 56x12x10 mm by uniaxial pressing at 200 MPa. The green compacts were sintered at 1100-1200 degrees C for 1-5 hr under air. Investigations were carried out, on the effect of addition of AT and M in terms of physical properties, microstructure, XRD phases, as well as wear and mechanical properties of AT and M-reinforced porcelain ceramic composites. Phase and microstructural characterizations of the sintered materials were carried out by using X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The Micro Vickers hardness testing was performed using the Shimadzu HMV-MIII hardness tester.