• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.203-213
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• 1996

In this study the subcritical crack growth behavior in an Al2O3-SiCw composite has been investigated using in situ fracture technique of applied moment double cantilever beam (AMDCB) specimens indside an SEM. This technique allows the detailed observation of whisker and grain bridging in the crack wake region. The experimental results indicated that the KI-a curve was deviated from the conventional powder law form and that the existed a region where the rate of microcrack growth was decreased with increasing the externally applied stress intensity factor. This behavior could be explained by arising crack growth resistance i.e. R-curve behavior which was associated with crack shielding due to whisker and grain bridging. The R-curve was also analyzed from the KI-a curve data in order to quantify the bridging effect in the Al2O3-SiCw composite.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.649-654
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• 2004

In this paper, the fracture toughness and mechanisms of failure in a random SiC-whisker/$Al_{2}O_3$ ceramic composite were investigated using in situ observations during mode I(opening) loading. $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite was obtained by hot press sintering of $Al_{2}O_3$ powder and SiC whisker as the matrix and reinforcement, respectively. The whisker and powder were mixed using a turbo mill. The composite was produced at SiC whisker volume fraction of $0.3\%$. Compared with monolithic $Al_{2}O_3$, fracture toughness enhancement was observed in $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite. This improved fracture toughness was attributed to SiC whisker bridging and crack deflection. $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite exhibited typically brittle fracture behavior, but a fracture process zone was observed in this composite. This means that the load versus load-line displacement curve of $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite from a fracture test may involve a small non-linear region near the peak load.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.696-704
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• 1991

ZrO2-Toughened Alumina-Ceramics (ZTA) with SiC Whisker as dispersive additive were prepared by pressureless sintering at 1$600^{\circ}C$ and 1$650^{\circ}C$ and by HIPing at 1$600^{\circ}C$ in Ar atmosphere. Effects of SiC-Whisker addition on microstuructural, mechanical, and thermal properties were investigated and the toughening mechanisms between theory and experiment were compared. Specimens with 15 vol% Whisker prepared by HIPing showed 8.26 MPa.ma1/2 in fracture toughness and 600 MPa in flexural strength owing to contribution of the three mechanisms such as crack deflection, whisker bridging and whisker pullout in spite of difference between the theoretical and experimental values due to the partial inhomogeneous dispersion of SiC-Whisker in the matrix and the processing flaw.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1012-1018
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• 1991

SiC whisker-reinforced LAS matrix composites were developed by a mixed colloidal processing route. An optimization of processing conditions was made using the zeta potential data of silica, boehmite, and SiC whisker dispersions. Similarly, the SiC whisker-reinforced composites were also fabricated by the conventional sol-gel process using the hydrolysis-condensation reaction of relevant metal alkoxides. The composites fabricated by the mixed colloidal processing route were characterized by a uniform spatial distribution of SiC whisker throughout the matrix. The fracture toughness increased from 1.3 MPa.m1/2 for the LAS specimen to 5.0 Mpa.m1/2 for the hot-pressed composite (95$0^{\circ}C$ and 20 MPa for 20 min) containing 20 wt% SiC whisker. The increase in fracture toughness appears to result mainly from the crack deflection and the crack bridging by whiskers with some additional toughenings from the whisker pullout and the matrix prestressing mechanisms.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.731-739
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• 1993

R-curve measurements were performed on Al2O3(matrix)-ZrO2-SiC whisker composite and Al2O3-ZrO2, Al2O3-SiC whisker composites in the favor of comparing the effect of ZrO2 and SiC whisker, as a second phase, to Al2O3 matrix. Al2O3-SiC whisker and Al2O3-ZrO2-SiC whisker were fabricated by hot pressing at 1$700^{\circ}C$, 15MPa and Al2O3-ZrO2 by pressureless sintering at 1$600^{\circ}C$. A controlled flaw/strength technique was utilized to determine fracture resistance as a function of crack extension and R-curve behaviour was determined from the relationship which is KR=K0(Δa)m. R-curveresults were KR=6.173$\times$Δa0.031 for Al2O3-ZrO2, KR=18.796$\times$Δa0.172 for Al2O3-SiC whisker and KR=11.96$\times$Δa0.110 for Al2O3-ZrO2-SiC whisker composite. From the analysis of R-curve and expeirmental data above three composites, it is found that R-curve behaviour of Al2O3-ZrO2-SiC whisker composite was dominated initially by the strengthening effect of ZrO2 and after, some extended crack were influenced by the effect of SiC whisker. Analysis of SEM and X-ray data revealed that whisker bridging in the crack wake and whisker pull-out mechanisms were the main mechanism for the R-curve behaviour.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.617-622
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• 1992

In order to study on the effect of SiC whisker in flexural strength characterization of macro defect-free (MDF) cement composites, which composed of high alumina cement and polyvinyl alcohol, microstructural characterization of the composite specimens fabricated by the addition of SiC whiskers was investigated. Microproes are created around the SiC whisker, MDF cement didn't react with the SiC whisker. However, flexural strength of the composites have been improved. Fracture morphology of the composites, presents mainly intergranular type fracture passing around the unhydrated particles and siC whiskers, and partially transgranular type fracture. The main strengthening mechanisms of the MDF cement composites reinforced with SiC whiskers are characterized by crack deflection, microcracking, and bridging of cracks.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.88-95
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• 2001

Silicon nitride based ceramics reinforced with 3wt% Si$_{3}$N$_{4}$ whisker was prepared by tape casting to investigate the effect of microstructure on erosion behaviors. Hardness and fracture toughness were measured with prepared specimens. A gas blast type erosion tester was used to examine the erosion behavior of the specimens with different impact directions and angles. The erosion rate increases with increasing impact angle. Erosion rate of the silicon nitride ceramics also depends on the grain orientations, The erosion rate was lowered when impaction direction was parallel to the grain orientation This result was explained by the crack deflection and bridging due to the grain orientation.