Preparation of alumina ceramics with uniformly dispersed micropores

Submicron micropores were uniformly dispersed in an alumina ceramic matrix by using the volume shrinkage accompanied by the decomposition of aluminum titanate (AT) into corundum and rutile. The methodology for the fabrication of the pore-dispersed alumina includes (1) homogeneous mixing of 2-8 wt%TiO₂ with alumina, (2) densification of AT-dispersed alumina, and (3) decomposition of AT into corundum and rutile with the formation of micropores. Such micropores are considered to release the residual thermal strain and to deflect cracks propagating in the alumina matrix.