Preparation and anisotropic properties of textured structural ceramics: A review

Ceramics are usually composed of randomly oriented grains and intergranular phases, so their properties are the statistical average along each direction and show isotropy corresponding to the uniform microstructures. Some methods have been developed to achieve directional grain arrangement and preferred orientation growth during ceramic preparation, and then textured ceramics with anisotropic properties are obtained. Texture microstructures give particular properties to ceramics along specific directions, which can effectively expand their application fields. In this review, typical texturing techniques suitable for ceramic materials, such as hot working, magnetic alignment, and templated grain growth (TGG), are discussed. Several typical textured structural ceramics including α-Al₂O₃ and related nacre bioinspired ceramics, Si₃N₄ and SiAlON, h-BN, MB₂ matrix ultra-high temperature ceramics, MAX phases and their anisotropic properties are presented.