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Fracture toughness measurements of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub x/ single crystals

Journal Article · · Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.98420· OSTI ID:6419844

We report fracture toughness measurements on single crystals of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub x/, the phase responsible for superconductivity above liquid-nitrogen temperatures. Indentation crack length measurements on the (010) orthorhombic crystal growth faces revealed the (100) and (001) planes as preferred fracture planes. The toughness of these planes is K/sub c/ = 1.1 +- 0.3 MPa m/sup 1//sup ///sup 2/, and the hardness H = 8.7 +- 2.4 GPa. The observed growth of both radial and lateral cracks in ambient air suggests that these crystals are susceptible to moisture-enhanced nonequilibrium crack propagation.

Research Organization:
IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598
OSTI ID:
6419844
Journal Information:
Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 51:6; ISSN APPLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English