Crack-Healing Behaviour of Zirconia /SiC Composite Ceramics and Strength Properties of Crack-Healing Specimens

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.