ZrO2-forsterite composites have been successfully prepared from zircon and magnesite powders utilizing reaction sintering process at temperatures of 1350 oC, 1450 oC and 1550 oC. The weight stoichiometric ratio of calcined magnesite and zircon to form forsterite is 31.6 : 68.4, however, in order to study the effects of calcined magnesite on the sintering behavior and properties of the composites, excessive amounts of calcined magnesite powder by 10%, 20% and 40% have also been added in the starting materials respectively. XRD results show that the phase of zirconia in the sintered composites transforms from monoclinic to cubic with increasing the amounts of calcined magnesite powder. SEM observations reveal that increasing sintering temperature is beneficial to the densification of ZrO2-forsterite composites. And increasing the excessive amount of calcined magnesite can result in an improvement of thermal shock resistance ability but the decrease of the cold crushing strength in the ZrO2-forsterite composites.

Keywords: Zirconia, Forsterite, Reaction sintering process, Magnesite, Zircon