Characterization of beta-Si3N4 whiskers. Technical report

Technical Report · Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:5409863

Homeny, J; Neergaard, L J; Karasek, K R; Donner, J T; Bradley, S A

In ceramic matrix composites, whisker reinforcements are primarily utilized to enhance the fracture toughness. Essentially, the whisker reinforcement prevents catastrophic brittle failure by providing processes that dissipate energy during crack propagation. Various toughening mechanisms, such as crack deflection, whisker pullout, and whisker bridging, are probably all operative to some extent. The toughening increment produced by each mechanism depends on various microstructural features. One feature of particular importance for optimizing fracture toughness concerns the nature of the whisker/matrix interface, which can be controlled largely by the physical, chemical, and structural properties of the whiskers.

• Research Organization: National Center for Composite Materials Research, Urbana, IL (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5409863
• Report Number(s): AD-A-234206/1/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360202 -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Structure & Phase Studies
360204 -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Physical Properties
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
BRIDGES
BRITTLENESS
CERAMICS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRACK PROPAGATION
CRACKS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALS
FAILURES
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
INTERFACES
MATERIALS
MATRIX MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MICROSTRUCTURE
MONOCRYSTALS
NITRIDES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PNICTIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON NITRIDES
WHISKERS