Superplastic Deformation of Alumina Composites Reinforced with Carbon Nanofibers and with Graphene Oxide Sintered by SPS-Experimental Testing and Theoretical Interpretation.

The superplastic behavior of alumina-based nanostructured ceramics (AlO) is an important issue in the world of materials. The main body of this paper is an analysis of the creep behavior of polycrystals, with grain boundary sliding as the main deformation mechanism at high temperatures. Concomitant accommodation of grain shapes to preserve spatial continuity has a comparatively small effect on the strain rate.

Elusive super-hard BC accessible through the laser-floating zone method.

Boron carbide is among the most promising ceramic materials nowadays: their mechanical properties are outstanding, and they open potential critical applications in near future. Since sinterability is the most critical drawback to this goal, innovative and competitive sintering procedures are attractive research topics in the science and technology of this carbide. This work reports the pioneer use of the laser-floating zone technique with this carbide.