Suspension Processing of Al ₂ O ₃ /SiC Whisker Composites

Abstract

Homogeneous Al 2 O 3 powder/SiC whisker compacts were prepared by suspension processing. By optimizing the conditions for particle/whisker codispersion, castable suspensions could be prepared at total‐solids concentrations 50 vol%. Green bodies with high relative density (∼66% to 70%) were obtained with SiC whisker contents in the range of 5 to 30 vol%. Although densification was severely inhibited by the SiC whiskers, significantly higher sintered densities were obtained by suspension processing compared to dry processing.