Influence of transferred arc plasma processing parameters on transferred arc plasma processing parameters on mullite-zirconia composite formation

Abstract

In this work, a mullite-zirconia composite was synthesized through the solid state reaction of alumina and zircon powders under transferred arc plasma plume. The influences of processing parameters such as time and torch power on the microstructure of the resultant composite were examined. For this purpose, alumina and zircon powders with 3:2 mole ratios were prepared by ball milling and processed in transferred arc plasma torch at constant argon gas flow rate (10 slpm). The molten composites were cooled by forced air. The processing time (2 to 8 minutes) and torch input power (5-15 kW) was varied and studied their influenced on the composite microstructure. The phase and microstructure of the processed samples were examined from X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. The obtained result showed that the processing time strongly influenced the growth pattern of zirconia in mullite matrix.