Manufacturing of ZrO2-Ni graded composites via centrifugal casting in the magnetic field

The paper presents the possibility of fabricating ceramic-metal composites by an innovative method of centrifugal slip casting in the magnetic field. It was examined whether the use of this method would allow obtaining a gradient concentration of metal particles in the ceramic matrix. In the applied technique, the horizontal rotation axis was used. The study investigated the effect of solid phase content on the properties and microstructure of the products. Water-based suspensions with 35, 40, 45 and 50 vol.% of solid-phase content were prepared with 10 vol.% additional of nickel powder. The viscosity of prepared slurries was considered. The gradient distribution of nickel particles in the zirconia matrix was observed on SEM. Vickers hardness of ZrO2-Ni composites has been measured. The research revealed that the physical properties depend on the volume fraction of solid content and increase as the volume of solid content increases.