The effect of amorphous Si3N4 nanoparticles and magnetized distilled water on the mechanical properties and infrared transmittance of α-Al2O3

Abstract This study resolves the inherent trade-off between fracture toughness and mid-infrared transparency in α-Al2O3 ceramics. A novel shear-stress thin-layer process with magnetic-field-assisted dispersion achieves uniform distribution of 0.1 wt% amorphous Si3N4 nanoparticles and MgO/La2O3 sinte...

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Main Authors: Mahdi Darabi, Ehsan Mohammad Sharifi, Reza Vafaei, Akbar Eshaghi, Mohammad Reza Loghman-Estarki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11241-1
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author Mahdi Darabi
Ehsan Mohammad Sharifi
Reza Vafaei
Akbar Eshaghi
Mohammad Reza Loghman-Estarki
author_facet Mahdi Darabi
Ehsan Mohammad Sharifi
Reza Vafaei
Akbar Eshaghi
Mohammad Reza Loghman-Estarki
author_sort Mahdi Darabi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study resolves the inherent trade-off between fracture toughness and mid-infrared transparency in α-Al2O3 ceramics. A novel shear-stress thin-layer process with magnetic-field-assisted dispersion achieves uniform distribution of 0.1 wt% amorphous Si3N4 nanoparticles and MgO/La2O3 sintering aids using 2 wt% DL dispersant at pH 10. Post-annealing at 1200 °C enhances fracture toughness by 126% (3.4 ± 0.2 to 7.68 ± 0.3 MPa m1/2) while reducing hardness from 23.6 ± 0.8 GPa to 12.6 ± 0.5 GPa, confirming improved ductility. XRD analysis verifies compressive residual stress (− 1.60 ± 0.08 GPa) and lattice strain (− 0.49 ± 0.05%). FESEM/EDS reveals grain refinement from 402 ± 18 nm to 124 ± 6 nm with homogeneity index exceeding 0.93. These microstructural modifications enable 85.3 ± 0.5% mid-infrared transmittance between 3 and 6 μm, surpassing conventional transparent alumina by 41%. This approach establishes a scalable method for designing multifunctional ceramics with simultaneous mechanical resilience and optical performance.
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spelling doaj-art-02440bfa69a5493d89f4b78cb4e976992025-08-20T04:01:51ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115112110.1038/s41598-025-11241-1The effect of amorphous Si3N4 nanoparticles and magnetized distilled water on the mechanical properties and infrared transmittance of α-Al2O3Mahdi Darabi0Ehsan Mohammad Sharifi1Reza Vafaei2Akbar Eshaghi3Mohammad Reza Loghman-Estarki4Department of Materials Engineering, Maleke Ashtar University of TechnologyDepartment of Materials Engineering, Maleke Ashtar University of TechnologyDepartment of Materials Engineering, Maleke Ashtar University of TechnologyDepartment of Materials Engineering, Maleke Ashtar University of TechnologyDepartment of Materials Engineering, Maleke Ashtar University of TechnologyAbstract This study resolves the inherent trade-off between fracture toughness and mid-infrared transparency in α-Al2O3 ceramics. A novel shear-stress thin-layer process with magnetic-field-assisted dispersion achieves uniform distribution of 0.1 wt% amorphous Si3N4 nanoparticles and MgO/La2O3 sintering aids using 2 wt% DL dispersant at pH 10. Post-annealing at 1200 °C enhances fracture toughness by 126% (3.4 ± 0.2 to 7.68 ± 0.3 MPa m1/2) while reducing hardness from 23.6 ± 0.8 GPa to 12.6 ± 0.5 GPa, confirming improved ductility. XRD analysis verifies compressive residual stress (− 1.60 ± 0.08 GPa) and lattice strain (− 0.49 ± 0.05%). FESEM/EDS reveals grain refinement from 402 ± 18 nm to 124 ± 6 nm with homogeneity index exceeding 0.93. These microstructural modifications enable 85.3 ± 0.5% mid-infrared transmittance between 3 and 6 μm, surpassing conventional transparent alumina by 41%. This approach establishes a scalable method for designing multifunctional ceramics with simultaneous mechanical resilience and optical performance.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11241-1α-Al2O3Amorphous Si3N4 nanoparticlesDispersing agentsMagnetized distilled waterMechanical propertiesInfrared transmittance
spellingShingle Mahdi Darabi
Ehsan Mohammad Sharifi
Reza Vafaei
Akbar Eshaghi
Mohammad Reza Loghman-Estarki
The effect of amorphous Si3N4 nanoparticles and magnetized distilled water on the mechanical properties and infrared transmittance of α-Al2O3
Scientific Reports
α-Al2O3
Amorphous Si3N4 nanoparticles
Dispersing agents
Magnetized distilled water
Mechanical properties
Infrared transmittance
title The effect of amorphous Si3N4 nanoparticles and magnetized distilled water on the mechanical properties and infrared transmittance of α-Al2O3
title_full The effect of amorphous Si3N4 nanoparticles and magnetized distilled water on the mechanical properties and infrared transmittance of α-Al2O3
title_fullStr The effect of amorphous Si3N4 nanoparticles and magnetized distilled water on the mechanical properties and infrared transmittance of α-Al2O3
title_full_unstemmed The effect of amorphous Si3N4 nanoparticles and magnetized distilled water on the mechanical properties and infrared transmittance of α-Al2O3
title_short The effect of amorphous Si3N4 nanoparticles and magnetized distilled water on the mechanical properties and infrared transmittance of α-Al2O3
title_sort effect of amorphous si3n4 nanoparticles and magnetized distilled water on the mechanical properties and infrared transmittance of α al2o3
topic α-Al2O3
Amorphous Si3N4 nanoparticles
Dispersing agents
Magnetized distilled water
Mechanical properties
Infrared transmittance
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11241-1
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