Microstructure, fracture and damage mechanisms in rare-earth doped silicon nitride ceramics

摘要

Influence of rare-earth oxide additives on the strength, fracture toughness and tribological behaviour of hot-pressed Si_3N_4 and Si_3N_4/SiC micro/nano-composites has been investigated. Four-point bending mode and ball on disc methods have been used for strength and wear tests and Single-Edge V-Notched Beam, Chevron Notched Beam, Indentation Strength and Indentation Fracture techniques for fracture toughness measurement. Fractography has been used to characterize strength limiting defects, fracture micromechanisms and damage mechanisms during the wear test. The strength values were strongly influenced by the present processing flaws. Wear behavior is significantly influenced by the chemical composition and by the microstructure of the materials.