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Fracture mechanisms in ferroelectric-ferroelastic lead zirconate titanate (Zr:Ti = 0. 54:0. 46) ceramics

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (USA)
;  [1]
  1. Utah Univ., Salt Lake City, UT (USA). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering

Fracture toughness, {ital K}{sub IC}, of a single-phase commercial lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic of tetragonal structure was measured using the single edge notched beam method above and below the Curie temperature. Domain switching (poling) under electrical and mechanical loading was examined using x-ray diffraction. Surface grinding, electrical poling, and mechanical poling caused crystallographic texture. Similar texture, indicative of domain switching, was also observed on fracture surfaces of some samples fractured at room temperature. At room temperature, the highest {ital K}{sub IC} measured was 1.85 MPa {center dot} m{sup 1/2}, while above the Curie temperature it was about 1.0 MPa {center dot} m{sup 1/2}. Cracks emanating from Vickers indents in poled samples were different in the poling and the transverse directions. The difference in crack sizes is explained on the basis of domain switching during crack growth. These results indicate that ferroelastic domain switching (twinning) is a viable toughening mechanism in the PZT materials tested.

OSTI ID:
6883228
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (USA) Vol. 73:3; ISSN 0002-7820; ISSN JACTA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English