Microstructural and Chemical Components of Ceramic-Metal Interfacial Fracture Energies

Abstract

AbstractFailure of ceramic-metal interfaces induced by residual or applied stress is often brittle in nature although plastic strain in one or more bonding layers may add to the fracture energy for decohesion. Thus, the fracture toughness depends on chemical bonding across the interface, the plasticity and flow stress of the metal as well as other factors, arising from local internal stresses and the microstructure of the ceramic-metal couple, that cause crack tip branching, deflection, bridging, blunting or shielding. Electron microscopy and DCB testing of metal-glass systems provide insights into the relative importance of factors that determine the decohesion resistance.