PHASE-TRANSFORMATION OF INVISCID MELT-SPUN (IMS) ALUMINA-ZIRCONIA EUTECTIC FIBERS

Al2O3-ZrO2 (AZ) eutectic fibres containing 41.05 wt% ZrO2 and 2.03 wt% Y2O3 were produced via inviscid melt spinning (IMS). Scanning electro n microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the morphology of the as-spun A Z fibre. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and X-ray diffraction (XR D) were used to investigate the phase transformations in this fibre. T he XRD pattern of the as-spun AZ fibre showed tetragonal ZrO2, alpha-A l2O3, and non-equilibrium delta-Al2O3 phase formation. The DTA curve o f the as-spun AZ fibre showed only one endothermic peak representing t he phase transformation of delta-Al2O3 to alpha-Al2O3. This phase tran sformation was confirmed by analysing the XRD pattern of heat-treated AZ fibre.