Fracture toughness of MgCr/sub 2/O/sub 4/-ZrO/sub 2/ composites

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6035785

Singh, J P

The effect of unstabilized ZrO/sub 2/ inclusions on the fracture surface energy of MgCr/sub 2/O/sub 4/ was studied as a function of ZrO/sub 2/ content. It was observed that fracture surface energy increases with increasing ZrO/sub 2/ content and reaches the maximum value of 24.5 J/m/sup 2/ at 16.5 vol % ZrO/sub 2/. This represents an approx. 4-fold increase in the fracture surface energy of MgCr/sub 2/O/sub 4/ as a result of ZrO/sub 2/ inclusions. It is proposed that this improvement results from the energy absorbed by the microcracks formed in the MgCr/sub 2/O/sub 4/ matrix as a result of the tetragonal ..-->.. monoclinic phase transformation of ZrO/sub 2/ and the associated volume expansion.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6035785
• Report Number(s): CONF-850122-6; ON: DE85007945
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360203* -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Mechanical Properties
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHROMATES
CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS
ENERGY
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
FREE ENERGY
INCLUSIONS
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
REFRACTORIES
SURFACE ENERGY
SURFACE PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES