Thermal shock induced microcracking of cermets and cemented carbides

The microcracking of both cermets and cemented carbides which occurs during repeated thermal-shock testing was analyzed using a modification of a microstructural mechanics model proposed by Sridhar et al. (J Am Ceram Soc 1994;77:1123-38). The model was modified to deal with multi-phase polycrystalline materials. The modified model predicts that the extent of microcracking in a cermet is less than that in a cemented carbide.