This paper focuses onto the fracture behaviour of brittle matrix and alumina trihydrate particulate composites fabricated by hot pressing at 550-650 deg C. In the study of fracture mechanism, the particle size of particulate phase and volume fraction are varied. Strength, elastic modulus and density have been measured for composites. When the particles are too close to one another, the composites appear as a continuum and the crack front does not interact with the discrete particles. The fracture energy increases with the surface roughness. Larger particles result in larger cracks.
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