Super-High Strength Ultra-High Temperature Ceramic Composites
Abstract
We propose to pursue novel processing science for creating a super-high strength ultra-high temperature ceramic composite using dire,ct current to transform any starting sintered material microstructure into a nanocrystalline microstructure. The basic science of th,is novel processing science approach will focus on understanding the interaction between direct current and defect structures (singl,e point, line and two dimensional) in solid solutions of Zr-Hf-B-C-N-Si that are electrical conductors and insulators. The ability t,o shape and form ceramics to have super-high strengths has always been limited by grain growth during high temperature sintering and, subsequent densification. Thus, numerous processing approaches rely exclusively on forming submicron size grains after densificatio,n using nano-scale primary particle powders. However, this approach relies heavily on powder synthesis routes that are challenging t,o process at large scale quantities to measure bulk physical and mechanicalproperties on densified ceramics. Therefore, our proposed, work would eliminate the requirement for use of nano scale powders, and extensive high pressures and long hold times at temperature, to densify ultra high temperature ceramics. Our preliminary findings suggest that this new fundamental processing approach has the, potential to increase ultra-high temperature ceramic strengths up to 2 GPa based on Hall Petch theory. Our technical approach will,focus on elucidating the enabling mechanisms controlled by current density and temperature to obtain ceramics with grain sizes as lo,w as 100nm thus creating super strong ceramics with high hardness.APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 05, 2022
- Source ID
- N000142212619
Entities
People
- Erica L. Corral
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Arizona