FABRICATION OF FINE YAG-PARTICULATE-DISPERSED ALUMINA FIBER

This paper involves novel fabrication processes for polycrystalline al pha-Al2O3-matrix composite fibers that contain nanosized yttrium alumi num garnet (YAG) particles. Dense alpha-Al2O3/YAG nanocomposite fibers with a fine and homogeneous microstructure can be successfully fabric ated via a modified sol-gel process and alpha-Al2O3 seed-particle addi tion. YAG nanoparticles have been homogeneously dispersed within Al2O3 -matrix grains as well as at grain boundaries. Effects of alpha-Al2O3 seed particles and YAG nanodispersions on crystallization and microstr ucture development of nanocomposite fibers are discussed.