FABRICATION OF GRADED ALUMINA-NICKEL COMPOSITES BY CENTRIFUGAL SLIP CASTING

Microstructural graded hollow cylinders were processed and characterized using the developed method called centrifugal slip casting (CSC). Water based slurries containing alumina and nickel powders were tested in this work. Two series were produced by the CSC technique at mould rotational speeds of 1000 rpm. The samples were prepared with a solid content of 50 vol.% with 10 and 20 vol.% nickel particles with respect to the total solid volume, respectively. The microstructure along the radial direction of a cross-sectional sample was presented. No new phases were observed after sintering. Microstructural observation and EDS analysis showed two zones with various concentrations of Ni particles in both series along the radial direction of the cylinders.