Crack-Healing Behaviour of Zirconia/SiC Composite Ceramics and Strength Properties of Crack-Healing Specimens
Keiji HOUJOU, Syunsuke SUDO and Koji TAKAHASHI
Abstract:Zirconia/ SiC composite ceramics have a high crack-healing ability at low temperature. We investigated the effects of SiC composite, environment on the crack-healing behavior. We also investigated the fatigue strength of heat-treated specimens. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) For crack-healing of ZrO2 ceramics it is necessary both a composite SiC and an oxidation environment. (2) When ZrO2/ SiC ceramics are heat -treated in air, a phase -transformation by SiC composite caused not only the crack- healing but improvement of the fracture toughness and bending strength. Key Words:ZrO2 ceramics, SiC composite, Crack- healing, Fracture toughness, Phase -transformation