Silicon carbide whisker/alumina matrix composites: Effect of whisker surface treatment on fracture toughness

Technical Report · Wed Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6729357

Homeny, J; Vaughn, W L; Ferber, M K

In ceramic matrix composites, whisker reinforcements are primarily utilized to enhance the fracture toughness of the composite. Essentially, the whisker reinforcement prevents catastrophic brittle failure by providing processes that dissipate energy during the fracture process. The operation of various toughening mechanisms, such as crack deflection, whisker pullout, and whisker bridging, to a large extent depends on the nature of the whisker/matrix interface. Several factors affect the whisker/matrix interface, including matrix chemistry, whisker surface chemistry, whisker morphology, and thermal expansion mismatches.

• Research Organization: Illinois Univ., Urbana, IL (USA). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
• OSTI ID: 6729357
• Report Number(s): AD-A-220928/6/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360203* -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Mechanical Properties
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
BRITTLENESS
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CERAMICS
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRACKS
CRYSTALS
EXPANSION
FAILURES
FRACTURE MECHANICS
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
MATERIALS
MATRIX MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
MONOCRYSTALS
MORPHOLOGY
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SILICON CARBIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SURFACE FINISHING
SURFACES
THERMAL EXPANSION
WHISKERS