Comparison of the High-Temperature Deformation of Alumina-Zirconia and Alumina-Zirconia-Mullite Composites

An alumina-based ceramic codispersed with 15 vol% zirconia and 15 vol% mullite (AZM) was synthesized by reactive processing, and the creep behavior was compared to alumina with 30 vol% zirconia (AZ). Constant stress compressive creep behavior for AZM exhibited a stress exponent of 2 and an activation energy of 770 KJ/mol, while a similar stress exponent but lower activation energy of 660 KJ/mol was found for AZ. The strain rate of AZM, however, was more than twice that of the AZ under the same deformation conditions, indicating a better potential for superplastic shape forming.