Solid state synthesis of forsterite and its mechanical properties / Christopher Chin Kong Ming

• Main Author: Chin, Christopher Kong Ming
• Format: Thesis
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
• Online Access: http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/1/00%2DFront_Cover_Page%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/2/01%2DTitle_Page%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/3/02%2DOriginal_Literary_Work_Declaration%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/4/03%2DAbstract_English%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/5/04%2DAbstract_BM%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/6/05%2DAcknowledgement%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/7/06%2DTable_of_Content%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/8/07%2DList_of_Figures%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/9/08%2DList_of_Tables%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/10/09%2DList_of_Symbols_and_Abbreviations%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/11/10%2DList_of_Appendices%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/12/11%2DChpt_1%2DIntroduction_and_Objectives%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/13/12%2DChpt_2%2DLiterature_Review%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/14/13%2DChpt_3%2DResearch_Methodology%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/15/14%2DChpt_4%2DResults_and_Discusson%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/16/15%2DChpt_5%2DConlusions_and_Suggestions_For_Future_Work%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/17/16%2DLIST_OF_REFERENCES%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/18/17%2DLIST_OF_PUBLICATIONS%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/19/18%2DAPPENDIX%2DKHA100124.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/5911/

Forsterite (Mg2SiO4) has the potential for biomedical application. There were various synthesis methods developed over the years to produce nanocrystalline forsterite by conventional pressureless sintering. However, a systematic study on the factors controlling the properties of forsterite during powder processing and sintering has not been established. Hence, the aim of this research is to develop a well-defined phase pure forsterite ceramic employing conventional presureless sintering and to determine the optimum conditions to produce a sintered body with improved mechanical properties. In this study, 3 hours ball milling without heat treatment was determined as the optimum powder preparation method. There were 3 different holding time which were 2 hours (Group 1), 1 hour (Group 2) and 1 minute (Group 3) employed for the conventional pressureless sintering. The studies revealed that the combination of ultrasonic bath, 3 hours ball milling and abstinence of heat treatment proved to be the optimum and energy efficient method because no secondary phase was detected in Group 1 and Group 2 for all temperature range studied (1200°C, 1300°C, 1400°C, 1500°C). The highest Vickers hardness and fracture toughness were recorded in Group 2 at 1500°C with 5.01 GPa and 3.75 MPam1/2 respectively. Young’s modulus of 90.46 GPa was the highest recorded value for Group 2 at 1400°C. Therefore, Group 2 at 1400°C and 1500°C were the optimal holding time that showed improved mechanical properties even though Group 2 showed more porosity than Group 1 as reflected in the sintered microstructure. The use of higher sintering temperature in Group 1 was the probable cause resulted in lower fracture toughness properties. No sign of liquid phase sintering observed from the quenching experiment.