Hydrogen defects in α-Al2O3 and water weakening of sapphire and alumina ceramics between 600°C and 1000°C—II. Mechanical properties Original Research Article

Hydrogen impurities in alumina have been introduced by hydrothermal annealing (see part I). In this paper, we report on reductions in the flow strength of α-Al2O3 single crystals and polycrystals associated with hydrogen incorporation. Prior to deformation, α-Al2O3 single crystal and ceramic specimens were annealed in the presence of supercritical water at 850° or 900°C, under 1500 MPa pressure. Sapphire and alumina ceramics were plastically deformed between 600° and 1000°C under 1500 MPa pressure, by the addition of a uniaxial stress. Flow stresses are reduced by a factor of two, due to the presence of water, for sapphire and large grain (30–50 μm) polycrystals, as a result of enhanced dislocation mobility. Flow stresses of fine-grained (3–5 μm) polycrystals are reduced by water by a factor of six. This large reduction in strength is attributed to a change in mechanism from dislocation glide under dry conditions to grain boundary sliding under hydrothermal conditions.