ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, cilt.4, ss.21-29, 2002 (SCI-Expanded)
The effects of nano scale designed ultrafine mullite precursor microstructures on the formation and location of silica-rich glassy phase in the final sintered mullite matrix have been examined. By engineering and designing the stoichiometric mullite, precursors comprising ultrafine boehmite and silica particles, the location and amount of glassy phase in sintered mullite can be controlled. Particle-particle interactions of the two dissimilar species in the nanoscale were controlled in terms of the particle size ratio and particle shape. An obtained glassy-phase-free mullite microstructure is expected to provide very good mechanical properties at high temperature in terms of creep and thermal shock resistance.