Influence of Granule Character on Strength and Weibull Modulus of Sintered Alumina

Alumina specimens were prepared by compacting well‐characterized spray‐dried alumina granules of excellent deformability, followed by sintering. The strength and Weibull modulus were measured and microstructure was evaluated for specimens prepared from granules with different density and morphology. Compacts of spheroidal granules with lower density and lower granule strength sintered to 98% relative density and had fewer microstructural defects than compacts prepared from spheroidal or hollow granules of higher density. Flexural strength of sintered material was found to depend on initial granule size but not density or morphology of the granules. Weibull moduli of 18–20 were independent of particular granule characteristics.