Justyna Zygmuntowicz

Title : Fabrication of Al2O3-Cu-Mo composites by centrifugal slip casting method

Abstract:

In the present research, the Al2O3-Cu-Mo hybrid composites were prepared by centrifugal slip casting technique. This technique is a method for powder processing that combines the effects of slip casting and centrifugation. The aim of the work is to determine the possibility of forming microstructure of composites from Al2O3-Cu system with the addition of the third component. A commercially available powders were used as the starting materials. 
The Al2O3-Cu-Mo composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray, spectroscopy (EDS). The stereological analysis allows for obtaining information about the distribution of metal particles in the sintered composites. The density of the fabricated materials was examined using the Archimedes method. In addition, selected mechanical properties were characterized.
The results obtained in the experiment gave high cognitive value and application potential. In the investigation was had applied the original concept of formation of materials as hybrid gradient composites. The two innovative technologies were used: formation by centrifugal slip casting and sintering with varying proportion of liquid phase. This was allowing creating a gradient (zone) structure with properties that vary across the sample. It was found, that the composites fabricated by centrifugal slip casting have the shape of hollow cylinders. The obtained composites were distinguished by negligible porosity due to the application of centrifugal force. The X-ray phase analysis demonstrated that the reducing atmosphere used for sintering composites prevents the formation of new phases in the fabricated composites.

The study was accomplished thanks to the funds allotted by The National Science Centre within the framework of the research project ‘OPUS 13’ no. 2017/25/B/ST8/02036. This investigation supported by the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP).

Audience Take away:

•    The results presented in the paper will be useful for scientists who work on the preparation of ceramic-metal composites with gradient distribution of metal particles.
•    The investigations presented in this article shown possibility used of the method of centrifugal slip casting for the production of hybrid gradient composites from the Al2O3-Cu system with the addition of molybdenum.
•    The implementation of the research proposed in the presentation proposal will allow knowing the correlation between chemical composition, forming and sintering conditions and basic properties of obtained hybrid composites with gradient microstructure.

Biography:

Dr. J. Zygmuntowicz studied Chemical and Process Engineering at the Warsaw University of Technology, Poland and graduated as MS in 2012. At the same time, she studied Materials Science and Engineering at the same University, where she graduated as MS in 2013. She then joined the research group of Prof. Konopka and Prof. Szafran at the same University. She received her PhD degree in 2018 at the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering. The aim of her Ph. D. thesis was to create Al2O3-Ni composites with a gradient Ni particles by centrifugal slip casting. At the present time, Dr. joined the research group for a one-year postdoctoral fellowship supervised by Prof. Kaszuwara at the Division of Structural and Functional Materials at the Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw. She has published more than 30 research articles in SCI(E) journals. 
Research interests: 
•    Research on ceramic matrix ceramic-metal composites fabrication via centrifugal slip casting, gel centrifugal casting and centrifugal slip casting in the magnetic field. 
•    Research on the shaping of ceramic powders by methods based on colloidal chemistry such as gel casting, gel-tape casting, slip casting, etc.