Silicon Carbide Whisker/Alumina Matrix Composites: Effect of Whisker Surface Treatment on Fracture Toughness.

摘要

In ceramic matrix composites, whisker reinforcements are primarily utilized to enhance the fracture toughness of the composite. Essentially, the whisker reinforcement prevents catastrophic brittle failure by providing processes that dissipate energy during the fracture process. The operation of various toughening mechanisms, such as crack deflection, whisker pullout, and whisker bridging, to a large extent depends on the nature of the whisker/matrix interface. Several factors affect the whisker/matrix interface, including matrix chemistry, whisker surface chemistry, whisker morphology, and thermal expansion mismatches. Reprints. (jes)