Approaches to the design of structural ceramics incorporating whiskers and particulate phases

摘要

Advances in the technologically and commercially important areas of energy production and conversion, transportation, chemical processing, manufacturing, electronics, and communications are predicted upon the development of materials with greatly improved performance. Many of these components will be exposed to tensile stresses, and possibly quite high temperatures, which will require that the materials be designed to (1) achieve greater fracture resistance, (2) resist deformation at elevated temperatures, and (3) achieve the main component function. Here, theoretical modeling and observations of crack propagation in ceramics and composites are combined to identify and characterize mechanisms that contribute to fracture resistance and strength. Materials processing studies can then be employed to (1) develop the microstructural features suggested by the models and (2) understand the mechanisms involved in the generation of such microstructures. In this paper, the authors address how these various aspects can be used to enhance the mechanical performance of zirconia toughened ceramics (specifically involving transformation toughening) and whisker-reinforced ceramics with comments on other composites incorporating other discontinuous phases.