Inter-phase microstress on the grain boundary in Al2O3/SiC nanocomposites

We established a theoretical model to investigate intragranular particle microstress strengthening of Al2O3/SiC nanocomposites. Using this model, we calculated the average compressive microstresses on the Al2O3 grain boundaries caused the existence of the intragranular SiC particles. The average compressive microstresses increase almost linearly with SiC content, and reach 147 MPa for the nanocomposite with 10 vol.% SiC. The model gives a reasonable explanation for the remarkable strength increase.