Mechanical Investigation of a Novel Ceramic Composite Consisting of the YAG Matrix With Alumina Nanoparticles Fabricated by Slip Casting and the Conventional Sintering Process

The aim of this study was to fabricate YAG/Al2O3 ceramic composites with different alumina nanoparticles using slip casting and the atmospheric sintering process. In addition, some mechanical properties such as hardness and elastic modules of this novel ceramics were evaluated using the nanoindention technique. The results showed that the rheological behavior of the slurry was optimized to the solid loading of 55 wt% and the relative density of the green body was enhanced up to 65%. Relative density was increased after sintering at 1700 °C for 12 h to 99.5% and the pore size (150 nm) was reduced to half of that of powder particles. It should be noted that the optimum amount of alumina nanoparticles as a reinforcing agent in the matrix was less than 5%wt and the composite hardness was increased to 7.3%, as compared to the pure YAG ceramic.