Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 January 2011
SiC/mullite/zirconia composites were fabricated by controlling the oxidation of powder compacts of SiC, alumina, and 3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia. The powder compacts were first oxidized in air at 1100 °C for various times to obtain proper amounts of amorphous silica. Subsequent reaction sintering at 1500 °C for 2 h combined the amorphous silica with alumina to form mullite with planned amounts. The incorporation of 3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia promoted mullite formation and enhanced the densification of the samples. With ≥10 vol% of 3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia in the samples, the temperature of mullite formation was lowered from 1400 to 1300 °C, and mullitization was near completion after sintering at 1500 °C for 2 h. The densification of the samples depended on the contents of SiC and 3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia. Samples with 20 vol% SiC and 10–20 vol% 3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia could be sintered to reach approximately 97% of theoretical density after sintering at 1500 °C for 2 h.