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Crack Deflection and Interfacial Fracture Energies in Alumina/SiC and Alumina/TiN Nanocomposites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

S. Jiao
Affiliation:
Oxford Centre for Advanced Materials and Composites, Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford 0X1 3PH, UK
M. L. Jenkins
Affiliation:
Oxford Centre for Advanced Materials and Composites, Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford 0X1 3PH, UK
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Abstract

Crack/particle interactions in Al2O3/SiC and Al2O3/TiN nanocomposites have been observed by TEM on samples containing cracks produced by Vickers indentations. No significant crack deflection by intragranular SiC particles or microcracking around nanoparticles was found. Intergranular cracks were observed to be deflected into the matrix grains by SiC particles on grain boundaries inclined to the direction of crack propagation. TiN particles were not effective in this way. These features are briefly discussed within the framework of the interfacial fracture energies. These were calculated from interfacial energies, which were determined by the measurement of grain boundary-interface dihedral angles.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1997

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References

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