Porous LSCF/dense 3YSZ interface fracture toughness measured by single cantilever beam wedge test

Sandwich specimens were prepared by firing a thin inter-layer of porous La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LSCF) to bond a thin tetragonal yttria-stabilised zirconia (3YSZ) beam to a thick 3YSZ substrate. Fracture of the joint was evaluated by introducing a wedge between the two YSZ adherands so that the stored energy in the thin YSZ cantilever beam drives a stable crack in the adhesive bond. It was found that the extent of adhesive fracture increased with firing temperature and decreased with LSCF layer thickness. The adhesive failures were mainly at the interface between the LSCF and the thin YSZ beam and FEM modelling revealed that this is due to asymmetric stresses in the LSCF. The intrinsic adhesive fracture toughness of the LSCF/YSZ interface was estimated to be 11 J m−2 and was not firing temperature dependent within the temperature range investigated.