Effects of milling media on microstructure of glass infiltration alumina composite

    YANG Hong, ZHANG Shaoª²Feng, CAO Xiaoª²Gang, WANG Zhongª²Yi, TIAN Jieª²Mo

    1Department of Prosthdontics, Qingdu College of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China, 2Beijing Bofang Biomaterials Inc, Beijing 100094, China, 3State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics & Fine Processing, Institute of Nuclear Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To investigate the effects of milling media on the microstructure of glass infiltration alumina ceramic. METHODS: Different milling medias were employed in powder milling processes. The microstructure of the samples was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the local composition was studied by EDAX. RESULTS: In the powder milling process, agate granules were doped into Al2O3 powder. When Al2O3 blanks were partially sintered, eutectic reaction between the agate granules and Al2O3 particles led to the formation of colorless glass. The colorless glass was infiltrated into the adjacent Al2O3 networks and voids formed. During the colorful glass infiltration, the colorless glass kept solid and hampered the infiltration of the colorful glass into the voids. As a result, the voids became some permanent defects in the glass/Al2O3 composites. CONCLUSION: With the change of the milling media, this permanent defect decreases dramatically. ......