Using zirconium as an additive in super-strong composite materials (IMAGE)

Nagoya University

Using zirconium as an additive in super-strong composite materials

Caption

Scientists at Nagoya University, working in collaboration with NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd., have developed a set of composite materials composed of layers of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and tungsten carbide (WC) with zirconium atoms in between. These special Al2O3-WC composite materials outperform existing superhard materials at combining hardness with resistance to becoming permanently bent or broken.

Credit

Katsuyuki Matsunaga

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