EFFECT OF PARTICLE SIZE AND VOLUME FRACTION ON FRACTURE BEHAVIOUR OF SiCp-REINFORCED OXYNITRIDE GLASS COMPOSITES

摘要

The influence of particle size and volume fraction on the R- curve behaviour of dense particulate glass matrix composites has been investigated. Composites with oxynitride glass matrices containing 10 or 20 volume percent of SiC but with different particle sizes were fabricated by hot pressing techniques. Oxynitride glass compositions were chosen to produce composites of higher thermal expansion relative to the SiC particles. R-curves were determined using a special test designed to promote and measure stable crack growth in this material. The stresses arising in the process zones which developed as a result of microcracking can be used to explain increases in toughness observed in these systems.