Toughening Mechanism of Mullite Matrix Composites: A Review

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This is a review for the review article titled, "Toughening mechanism of mullite matrix composites: A Review" for the Journal Coatings.

The reviewer finds that the manuscript is well written and of sufficient breadth and depth to be a useful contribution to the literature on the various mechanisms mullite toughening. It is recommended to pubish as is.

Author Response

On behalf of my team, I would like to thank you for your professional review.

Reviewer 2 Report

This review seem interesting and comprehensive. therefore, it is recommended to be accepted. 

Author Response

Thank you very much for your professional review！

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear Authors,

In general, there is nothing to attach to in this article. However, I would ask you to correct two things:

- improving the quality of images 9 and 10 because they do not look good is such a good article,

- reference in the section about zirconia to additives stabilizing the metastable zirconia phases and to describe something about the effect of zirconia modification on its stability, all information you will find  in these two publications which please read and cite:

 

(1) Experimental investigation of particle size distribution and morphology of alumina-yttria-ceria-zirconia powders obtained via sol-gel route, Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering

(2) Trends and perspectives in modification of zirconium oxide for a dental prosthetic applications - A review, Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering

After correcting these two very small things, I recommend the article for adoption. Congratulations on a very good subject and a nice idea.

 

Reviewer

Author Response

As for your professional suggestions, I have made serious amendments and references.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 4 Report

The manuscript presents an interesting review about the preparation methods of mullite composites. In addition, the research status and reinforcement mechanism of several typical mullite-based composites are analyzed and discussed in detail, and the development of mullite-based composites is also prospected.

Because it is a review the authors thanks to this summary provide some useful references for new researchers in this field. The arguments set out are consistent and well developed. In addition, the manuscript is supported by an important review of the literature, pays critical attention to historical development of the concepts, takes into account the various points of view though different.

For all these considerations, this manuscript could be accepted after minor revision. In particular, the authors must:

• increase the quality and clarity of figure 3 and improve the comment. They must add the scale bar in the figure 3b). In addition, they could improve the discussion of this results in the manuscript.
• improve the clarity of figure 5. They could insert the legend to indicate the atoms.
• improve the clarity of figure 6. They could insert the bar scale in both figures. Moreover, the authors could add more comments and information about figure 6 (in particular, figure 6a), in the text.
• Similarly, the authors have to increase the quality and clarity of figure 8 and improve the comment. The image appears confuse.  They have to explain all information that are possible conclude by means of these imagines and describe they in the manuscript. 
• They must verify all the reference indications in the text. For example, at page7 line 224, and page 8 line 248 they must change with the simplify indication [73,74] and [78,79] such as suggest by manuscript template. The same page 8 line 261. The reference [80] in page 8 line 261 is indicate after the reference [81,82] indicate in the same page at 253. The reference 84 and 86 is not indicate in the manuscript.
• They must verify the dimension and format of all table.
• They must review and correct the English language for some errors.

Author Response

Thank you very much for your suggestions. I have shown my improvements in the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx