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Effect of Annealing Environment on the Crack Healing and Mechanical Behavior of Silicon Carbide‐Reinforced Alumina Nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Chou Irene A.,
Chan Helen M.,
Harmer Martin P.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1151-2916.1998.tb02469.x
Subject(s) - annealing (glass) , materials science , silicon carbide , indentation , nanocomposite , composite material , carbide , scanning electron microscope
The crack healing and strength behavior of an alumina‐silicon carbide (Al 2 O 3 ‐SiC) nanocomposite (Al 2 O 3 + 5 vol% 0.2 μm SiC particles) has been studied, as a function of the crack size and the annealing environment. Results show that annealing treatments can significantly increase the indentation strength. The annealing atmosphere has a profound influence on the extent of crack healing and the degree of strength recovery. Annealing in argon results in a strength increase of 50%, whereas annealing in air yields a three‐fold improvement in the indentation strength. Scanning electron microscopic observation has shown that healing of indentation cracks occurs in both environments, with the greater degree of healing occurring during annealing in air. Implications of the findings to the strengthening mechanism in Al 2 O 3 (SiC) nanocomposites will be discussed.