@article{Mohammad Saufi_Singh_Lee_Wu_2021, title={Densification and Mechanical Properties of Alumina Ceramics via Two-Step Sintering With Different Holding Times }, volume={6}, url={https://deerhillpublishing.com/index.php/ijemm/article/view/208}, DOI={10.26776/ijemm.06.04.2021.05}, abstractNote={<p>The densification and mechanical properties of alumina ceramics were investigated via two-step sintering (TSS) with different holding time. The alumina ceramics were sintered at 1450 °C for 1 min during the first stage, followed by sintering at 1350 °C with different holding times (2-24h). Conventional sintering (CS) was also performed on the alumina ceramics at 1450 °C for 2 h for comparison purpose. It was found that dense alumina with a relative density above 98% could be attained when TSS with a holding time of more than 12 h. The samples exhibited Vickers hardness between 5-8 GPa and fracture toughness of about 6 MPa.m<sup>1/2</sup>. In contrast, conventional sintered alumina yielded low relative density (85%), large grain size (2 μm), low Vickers hardness (4.23 GPa) and fracture toughness (4.73 MPa.m<sup>1/2</sup>). This study revealed that TSS is a viable approach in aiding densification, suppressing grain growth, and improving the mechanical properties of alumina ceramics.</p>}, number={4}, journal={International Journal of Engineering Materials and Manufacture}, author={Mohammad Saufi, Anis Syufina and Singh, Ramesh and Lee, K. Y. Sara and Wu, Tao}, year={2021}, month={Oct.}, pages={299–304} }