Review: High temperature deformation of Al2O3-based ceramic particle or whisker composites

The major theoretical models for creep and the creep rate equations of cera mic materials and their dispersed phase composites are briefly reviewed. Th en the literature on high temperature deformation behaviours of Al2O3-based oxide ceramic particle composites (Al2O3-ZrO2, Al2O3-Y3Al5O12, Al2O3-Tio(2 )) and Al2O3-based non-oxide ceramic particle or whisker composites (Al2O3- SiC(w), Al2O3-SiC(p), Al2O3-TiCxN1-x) since the mid 1980s is reviewed. Most studies have been concerned with the Al2O3-ZrO2 and Al2O3-SiC systems. The influences of various factors on the creep behaviours, the changes of the microstructure in the deformed specimens and the creep mechanisms of these composites are summarised and analysed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Limited a nd Techna S.r.l. All rights reserved.