Alumina-Zirconia Ceramic Reinforced with Strontium Hexa-Aluminate

Basics of technology for producing alumina-zirconia ceramics reinforced with strontium hexa-aluminate using ultrafine components and a precursor of strontium zirconate are described. It is shown, that grinding initial oxides and charges to an ultrafine state in a bead mill and creating a reinforcing network within a composite structure by introducing a precursor before wet grinding and subsequent two-stage sintering provides high ceramic density (not less than 99.5% of theoretical) and strength properties (static bending strength of at least 1200 MPa, crack resistance of at least 6.9 MPa<middle dot>m1/2).