Preparation and Mechanical Characterisation of Aluminium Nitride-Titanium Nitride and Aluminium Nitride-Silicon Carbide Composites

Dense aluminium nitride (AlN) based particle reinforced composites were prepared to increase the fracture toughness of AlN-based materials. Titanium nitride (TiN) (0 to 20 vol%) and silicon carbide (SiC) (0 to 30 vol%) particles, respectively, were added to AlN to prepare the composite materials. Fracture strength, fracture toughness, hardness and E-modulus were measured using 4-points bending and Vickers indentation method. The fracture toughness was increased more than 30% by adding TiN (SENB) and 25% by adding SiC (indentation method). Also the Vickers hardness was increased about 15 and 60% for TiN and SiC-particle reinforcement, respectively.