Mechanical properties of SiC coatings on spherical particles measured using the micro-beam method

A new method for measuring the mechanical properties of SiC coatings on spherical particles was developed. The method allows the evaluation of the mechanical properties of the SiC coating along different orientations. The elastic modulus determined using three-point bending is in agreement with that obtained from nanoindentation. Using a pre-cracked micro-cantilever, the fracture toughness was found to be anisotropic, with a value of 3.47 MPa m−1 along the tangential direction and a value of 6.72 MPa m−1 along the radial direction.