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COST 507 - Repositório Aberto da Universidade do Porto

COST 507 - Repositório Aberto da Universidade do Porto

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To<strong>da</strong>y there is a whole range of instruments with which nearly all of the features across this<br />

range can be made visible. In this sense one may use the term continuous materialography<br />

[14].<br />

The higher the requirements of a material, the more stringent are the requirements on its<br />

microstructure, i.e. the more accurately must its m i ero structure be established. The aim is to be<br />

able to create a microstructure specifically designed to produce a given property profile. The<br />

terms "microstructural engineering" and "microstructural design" are the keywords used to<br />

describe this process. Only in this way can the strictyl defined materials needed for stringent<br />

operating conditions and close property tolerances be realized.<br />

Typical contemporary examples are the oxides, nitrides, carbides and borides. These chemical<br />

compounds have been known for a long time, but it is only recently that they have been turned<br />

into advanced ceramic materials exhibiting useful properties. The prerequisite for this was a<br />

procedure to design a well-defined, fine-grained microstructure. How marked this detailed<br />

characterization of the morphology of a microstructure can be, can be seen in Fig. 12 as an<br />

example. Scanning electron micrographs are shown of the microstructure of an alumina-zirconia<br />

alloy. , as well-known cutting tool material. Both samples have the same composition. The light<br />

particles are zirconia inclusions in the alumina matrix, which appears gray. Both samples were<br />

prepared by densification of the same starting material. However, different densification<br />

processes were used. Although the treatments applied did not differ greatly, a large difference in<br />

strength resulted - nearly a factor of two The reason for this is a minute variation in the<br />

microstmcture. The treatment of the sample shown on the left resulted in a more pronounced<br />

grain growth, and as a direct consequence of the microstructural coarsening, the strength<br />

decreased markedly.<br />

The advanced ceramic materials, chosen as an example to convey a feeling and understanding of<br />

the significance of microstructures, have experienced a fascinating boom in the last few years<br />

and more breakthroughs can be expected in the future. The possibility of optimizing new<br />

materials by microstructural leads us to thoughts on the realization of novel materials and their<br />

availability.<br />

38

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