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Tensile and cyclic fatigue behavior of SiC whisker-reinforced Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} at room and elevated temperatures

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/244609· OSTI ID:244609
; ;  [1]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States). Metals and Ceramics Div.

Uniaxial tensile and cyclic fatigue data are reported for a commercial grade of silicon carbide whisker-reinforced alumina matrix composite (SiC{sub w}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}) tested at room and elevated temperatures. The data show that addition of short SiC{sub w} (30 vol%) in Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} can significantly increase room temperature tensile strength and resistance to cyclic fatigue of monolithic Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} by {approximately} 40% and {approximately} 100%, respectively, bringing the high-cycle fatigue strength (> 10{sup 5} cycle range) to {approximately} 95% of its tensile strength. These dramatic improvements in tensile and fatigue behavior were attributed to the presence of SiC{sub w} which effectively inhibited cyclic fatigue crack growth. The composite further exhibited excellent retention of tensile and cyclic fatigue strengths at elevated temperatures as high as 1,000 C for practical engineering applications.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
244609
Report Number(s):
CONF-960706--15; ON: DE96010566
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English