Fabrication and characterization of ceramic coatings with alumina-silica sol-incorporated α-alumina powder coated on woven quartz fiber fabrics

The formation and properties of dense silica/alpha-alumina coatings derived from alumina silica sol-incorporated coarse alumina powder (median particle size d(50)=0.509 mu m) using Al(NO3)(3)center dot 9H(2)O and tetraethyl orthosilicate as precursors have been investigated. Phase compositions and thermal evolution analysis of the coatings as well as interface microstructure between the coatings and the matrix were characterized by means of XRD, XRF, DSC-TG, TEM, SEM supplemented with EDS, and tensile strength tester. Silica/alpha-alumina coatings combined with quartz fiber matrix are homogeneously integrated with distinct inter-diffusion near the interface. The heat conduction mechanism of the quartz fiber matrix was influenced by the dense silica/alpha-alumina ceramic coatings, and the prepared coatings provide practical thermodynamic stability and desired mechanical strength for the woven quartz fiber fabrics. Crown Copyright (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.