Size distribution analysis of zirconia grains in ceramic composite microstructure for space use

Reference	Presenter	Authors (Institution)	Abstract
09-112	Daniel Alessander Nono	Nono, D.A.(Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais); Souza, R.L.(nstituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais); Mendes, J.P.(Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais); Silva, I.C.(Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais); Nono, M.C.(Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais);	Space materials for shielding against impacts of debris required low dispersion of their mechanical properties in order to minimize project risks. These dispersions of values are directly related to the microstructure homogeneity of the ceramic composite. In this work, the distribution analysis of zirconia grains in the microstructure of composites with different amounts of zirconia was studied and presented. Ceramics with 5, 8.5, 12, 15.5 and 18.5 wt% were obtained from the mixture of deflocculated suspensions of microparticulate alumina and nanoparticulate zirconia. The powders mixtures were compacted by isostatic pressing of 200 MPa and the sintered ceramics at 1550°C for 2 hours. The images of the microstructures were obtained FEG-SEM (Field Emission Gun - Scanning Electronic Microscopy). The zirconia grain size distribution curves were obtained by image analysis using the image analyzer software. The results of these analyzes showed that the 5% zirconia samples dispersed in the matrix more efficiently than larger quantities.
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