Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1478753 Journal of the European Ceramic Society 2005 9 Pages PDF
Abstract

Thermomechanical properties of a 35 vol.% SiC whiskers/Al2O3 matrix composite were investigated as a function of whisker surface quality. Two batches of SiC whiskers (Tateho-SCW-1-S) were studied. Whisker surface chemistry, as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and whisker morphology, as determined by SEM or TEM, was correlated to the thermomechanical properties of the composites. The surface oxygen content of the whiskers was shown to strongly affect the composite thermomechanical properties. High oxygen surface content appears to affect the whisker/matrix interfacial bonding thus decreasing the amount of crack deflection, whisker pullout and whisker bridging which are required to reach high fracture toughness values.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Materials Science Ceramics and Composites
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