Microstructure and Properties of the Mullite–ZrO 2 (Y 2 O 3 )–Si 3 N 4 -Composite Ceramics Sintered in by Different Methods

The purpose of the study was to investigate densification, phase composition, microstructure and properties of mullite–ZrO2 composite ceramics with the Si3N4 additive, sintered by various methods: conventional sintering, spark-plasma sintering, and sintering in both microwave and solar furnaces. The strength properties (compressive strength and elastic modulus) of the ceramic samples sintered by the conventional method and by spark-plasma sintering were compared. Some reasons for the formation of defects in the samples after sintering in microwave and solar furnaces are indicated