Sintering of aluminium titanate (TiAl2O5) and characterization of thermomechanical properties

International audienceThe flexibility (aptitude for strain) of refractory materials can be significantly improved by a specific microstructure design (grain size, volume of microcracks, porosity...). In the case of aluminium titanate (Al2TiO5), the orthorhombic structure involves a high anisotropic thermal expansion of the grains and leads to a very microcracked material after sintering. The objective of this work is to understand the influence of sintering conditions on TiAl2O5 microstructure, therefore on its thermomechanical properties. In the case of natural sintering, different sintering parameters lead to different microstructures ie different mechanical and thermomechanical properties. In order to improve final density, a study of non- conventional sintering (Spark Plasma Sintering or SPS) of TiAl2O5 has been also considered