STRENGTH OF TAPE CAST AND LAMINATED CERAMICS

Monolithic Al2O3 ceramic laminates were fabricated via a tape casting process. The strength of single tapes was compared with that of lamina tes, using biaxial flexure tests, The fracture stress was similar. How ever, the laminates presented a lower Weibull modulus. The feasibility of eliminating or diminishing void-type flaws present in the green ta pes was also assessed. To this end, tapes were first punctured, then l aminated and sintered, and the effect of these known flaws in the fina l ceramic was assessed in four-point flexure tests. The thermocompress ion of green tapes during laminate fabrication was found to modify the flaws to a more forgiving morphology.