Influence of sintering environment on zirconia–metal carbides characteristics

TaC and TiC powders were added, respectively to a matrix of (CaO + MgO) totally stabilized zirconia and to a CeO2 stabilized zirconia (PSZ) in order to produce composites by uniaxial pressing. The samples were sintered in vacuum at 1450 °C and in argon environment at 1800 °C, respectively. The purpose of present paper is to establish influence of the type of secondary phase on the mechanical properties of composites and to correlate the physical – mechanical and structural properties of composites with different matrices as function of the amount of secondary phase by varying the TiC and respectively TaC content in 5–30% weight range. Comparative microstructure investigations were made by SEM on sample surfaces. The X-ray diffraction analysis was in accordance with the determined properties of the studied compositions.