Direct numerical simulations on crack formation in ceramic materials under thermal shock by using a non-local fracture model

In this work, a non-local failure model was proposed and implemented into a finite element code. It was then used to simulate the crack evolution in ceramic materials subjected to thermal shock. By using this numerical model, the initiation and propagation of cracks in water quenched ceramic specimens were simulated. The numerical simulations reproduced faithfully the crack patterns in ceramic specimens underwent quenching tests. The periodical and hierarchical characteristics of the crack patterns were accurately predicted. The numerical simulations allow a direct observation on whole the process of crack initiation and growth, which is quite a difficult task in experimental studies. The failure mechanisms and the fracture procedure are discussed according to the numerical results obtained from the simulations. It is shown that the numerical model is simple, robust, accurate and efficient in simulating crack evolution in real structures under thermal shock.     

Crack Growth and Acoustic Emission in Ceramics During Thermal Shock

It is recognized that microcracks may contribute to failure of ceramics undergoing thermal shock, although there is little direct experimental evidence. The combination of acoustic emission (AE) and SEM observations provides such evidence. In this work AE data were analyzed after rapid quenching of samples in silicone oil. A thermal shock resistant material, alumina, and a material resistant to thermal damage, advanced zirconia refractory, have been examined. Cracks were detected by analysis of AE amplitudes and durations and their growth was monitored by systematic SEM observations as thermal shocks of increasing severity were applied. Three-point bending strengths were determined in air after quenching. For the first time SEM images are presented showing early stages of crack initiation for temperature differences less than Δ T_crit , i.e., where the fracture was not believed to occur. Further development of the cracks leads to abrupt strength reduction in alumina and controlled strength loss in zirconia, although AE data did not indicate any particular pattern of catastrophic crack propagation when substantial loss of strength occurred.     

Observation of ceramic cracking during quenching

It is difficult to observe the thermal shock cracking in real time, so the measurement of the crack after thermal shock is considered as an alternative method. This paper proposes a new experimental method which can exhibit the thermal shock cracking in real time by water quenching of translucent ceramic and high‐speed imaging. The crack propagation is captured, and the crack growth rate is calculated. The results confirm the previous theoretical predictions of crack propagation under thermal shock. This paper expands the research on understanding the failure mechanisms of ceramic materials in thermal shock.     

Fractal characterization of ceramic crack patterns after thermal shocks

This work utilized a combination of experimental evidence and fractal geometric method to assess the effect of crack extension concerning the thermal shock on residual strength of ceramics. Sintered alumina (Al₂O₃) ceramic slabs were bundled and quenched in water under different thermal shock temperatures. The fractal dimension of thermal shock crack patterns on the interior surface and the cooled surface was calculated by the Box-counting method. Fracture energy of a fractal pattern of microcracks in quasi-brittle solids was employed to explain the relationship between crack length and fractal dimensions. The results show that if the crack propagation has the same crack length but a larger fractal dimension, it will absorb more fracture energy. The thermal shock crack patterns of Al₂O₃ ceramics with different grain sizes were analyzed, and the smaller grain size ceramic had a higher fractal dimension of crack patterns than the larger one.     

Cracking behavior of ZrB2-SiC-Graphite sharp leading edges during thermal shock

Crack initiation and propagation of ZrB₂-SiC-Graphite (ZSG) sharp leading edges (SLEs) subjected to thermal shock were systematically evaluated by the water spraying method followed by a crack dyeing treatment. Distinct differences in the crack patterns among different test conditions were observed, and the cracking behavior of ZSG SLEs (including crack initiation time, crack number and critical failure temperature) was revealed to be strongly dependent on both the cooling rate and the microstructure. The crack propagation during thermal shock could be considered as a quasistatic process (crack speed was lower than 1?cm/s) that needed to be driven by continuous cooling.     

Comparative evaluation of two different methods for thermal shock resistance of laminated ZrB2-SiCw/BN ceramics

The thermal shock resistance (TSR) of laminated ZrB₂–SiC_w/BN ceramic was evaluated through indentation-quench and quenching-strengthening methods. It was correspondingly compared to monolithic ZrB₂–SiC_w ceramic. In the indentation-quench method with consideration to crack propagation on the surface layer, the critical thermal shock temperature of laminated ZrB₂–SiC_w/BN ceramic with surface residual tensile stress was 550?°C, which was lower than monolithic ZrB₂–SiC_w ceramic (600?°C). Unlike the microscopic method of crack growth measurement through indentation-quench testing, the quenching-strengthening method, which was based on the macroscopic properties of the material, mainly characterizing the residual strength subsequently to thermal shock, the critical thermal shock temperatures of the laminates and monolithic were 609?°C and 452?°C, respectively. Compared to the brittle fracture of ZrB₂–SiC_w ceramics, the deflection, bifurcation and delamination of the cracks as the main TSR mechanisms of the laminated ceramics, were revealed through quenching-strengthening method, which was more suitable for the TSR characterization of laminated ceramics.     

Crack propagation speed in ceramic during quenching

The effects of water quenching temperature and specimen size on the propagation speed of thermal shock crack are investigated in real time by water quenching of translucent ceramic and high-speed imaging. The results show that the crack growth rate increases with the increase of quenching temperature difference or specimen size. Within 100?ms, average crack speed is 20.3?mm/s at a temperature difference of 400?°C in 20?mm wide ceramic and is 11.9?mm/s at a temperature difference of 220?°C in 5?mm wide ceramic, respectively. Compare with specimen size, the influence of quenching temperature difference on the crack propagation speed is larger. The calculations based on meso-damage mechanics have similar results to those of experiments. This paper quantitatively studies the thermal-shock crack growth of ceramic in real time and expands the scientific understanding of thermal shock cracking phenomenon of ceramic.     

Nacre-like alumina composites reinforced by zirconia particles

Nacre-like alumina is a class of bio-inspired ceramic composite manufactured by field-assisted sintering of green bodies made primarily of alumina platelets with an anisotropic microstructure. Here we investigate the addition of zirconia particles to enhance the mechanical properties of the composite. The resulting structure is a nacre-like anisotropic structure which features deflection and reinforcement during crack propagation. Monoclinic zirconia has no impact on the mechanical properties of the composite while tetragonal zirconia improves its fracture resistance properties. Both types of zirconia seem to slow down grain growth during sintering. The addition of zirconia stabilised in the tetragonal phase is thus a good option to obtain a composite with a fine microstructure and higher mechanical properties than a standard nacre-like alumina, with a flexural strength of 626 ± 39 MPa and a crack initiation toughness of 6.1 ± 0.6 MPa.m^0.5.     

High thermal-conductivity rGO/ZrB2-SiC ceramics consolidated from ZrB2-SiC particles decorated GO hybrid foam with enhanced thermal shock resistance

Graphene derivative materials exhibit excellent mechanical and thermal properties, which have been extensively used to toughen ceramics and improve thermal shock resistance. To overcome the thermal agglomeration of graphene oxide (GO) during heating and drying process, ZrB₂-SiC particles decorated GO hybrid foam with uniformly anchored ceramic particles was synthesized by electrostatic self-assembly and liquid nitrogen-assisted freeze-drying process. Densified rGO/ZrB₂-SiC ceramics with varying microstructure, thermal physical and mechanical properties were obtained by adjusting the content of decorated ceramic particles. Although the flexural strength of rGO/ZrB₂-SiC ceramics have an attenuation compared with that of ZrB₂-SiC ceramic, the thermal conductivity, work of fracture and thermal shock resistance are greatly improved. rGO/ZrB₂-SiC ceramics exhibit delayed fracture and increasing R-curve behavior during the crack propagation. The novel preparation technology allows for the well dispersion of rGO in ZrB₂-SiC ceramics and can be easily extended to other ceramic or metal materials systems.     

Al2O3增强ZrO2陶瓷的制备及性能研究

本文采用热分解法制备Al2O3微粉、化学共沉淀法制备(Y,Ce)—ZrO2超细粉,通过适当工艺制备出ZrO2／Al2O3复合陶瓷。经研究发现,添加Al2O3,可抑制ZrO2晶粒的长大,提高基体的强度和韧性。当Al2O3含量达到30%(质量分数)时,复合陶瓷的抗弯强度为986MPa,断裂韧性为13.7MPa*m1／2。材料性能的提高可归结为Al2O3颗粒的弥散增韧和ZrO2陶瓷的相变增韧叠加作用的结果。     

Charge trapping characteristics of alumina based ceramics

The space charge dynamics is very important for electrical breakdown of alumina based ceramics. In this paper, the charge trapping/detrapping characteristics of alumina based ceramics were studied by means of isothermal surface potential decay (ISPD) method. For alumina and zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramic samples, the ISPD curves charged by corona discharge as well as microstructure characterization were carried out. For the first time, crossover phenomenon and hollow shaped potential profile were observed and reported in alumina based ceramics, indicating a surface potential decay process dominated by charge injection and volume conduction affected by the trap states in materials. In addition, the comparative trapping characteristics were evaluated based on a charge detrapping controlled decay model. The correlation between trap distribution and microstructure of alumina based ceramics was investigated. It was proposed that different charge trapping characteristics of alumina based ceramic samples was caused by varied shallow trap density of grain boundary.     

Thermal shock and thermal fatigue resistance of Al2O3/(W,Ti)C/TiN/Mo/Ni multidimensional graded ceramics

Al₂O₃/(W, Ti)C/TiN/Mo/Ni multidimensional graded ceramics and homogeneous reference ceramic were prepared by two step hot press sintering. The thermal shock and thermal fatigue resistance of the multidimensional graded ceramics were tested using the water quenching method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscope were used to investigate microscopic failure mechanism of ceramics. The results showed that the retained flexural strength of two-dimensional and one-dimensional graded ceramics was almost same, but higher than that of the homogeneous ceramic. The crack growth (∆c) of homogeneous ceramic increased rapidly, while that of two-dimensional graded ceramics is the lowest. Hence, thermal fatigue resistance of the two-dimensional graded ceramics was highest. The residual compressive stress in the first layer induced by the optimal graded structure played an important role. In addition, the increasing toughness on the crack propagation path by adding different amounts of metals was also a contributing factor.     

LaPO4添加量对粗晶ZrO2陶瓷抗热震性能的影响

以空气为淬冷介质,用淬冷-强度法研究了LaPO4添加量对粗晶ZrO2(4Y)陶瓷抗热震性能的影响。结果表明,原料粒度为1.5μm的ZrO2陶瓷,其抗热震性能随LaPO4添加量的增加逐渐提高。LaPO4添加量为20 vol%时,陶瓷的临界抗热震温差达1300℃,比单一ZrO2陶瓷提高了400℃。ZrO2-LaPO4复相陶瓷抗热震性能的提高主要是由于LaPO4晶体的层间解理以及弱界面开裂分散了热应力,耗散了热震裂纹扩展的能量。     

Thermal shock resistance study of stereolithographic additive-manufactured Al2O3 ceramics by in situ digital radiography

Thermal shock resistance is critical to ensure the service safety of ceramic hot-end components. The thermal shock performance of stereolithographic additive-manufactured ceramics has not yet been studied. In this study, a series of thermal shock experiments with various temperature differences was conducted on stereolithographic additive-manufactured Al₂O₃ ceramics. The surface cracks were analysed based on photographs captured before and after the thermal shock experiments. Three-point bending tests with in situ X-ray digital radiography were conducted to determine the thermal shock resistance. Crack initiation, propagation, and coalescence were observed under flexural loads. The critical temperature difference of the stereolithographic additive-manufactured Al₂O₃ ceramics was determined to be 267.22 °C. The crack length increased and residual strength decreased with increasing temperature differences. The layered structure of the stereolithographic additive-manufactured ceramics slowed crack propagation. We expect that this study will serve as a reference for the performance of stereolithographic additive-manufactured Al₂O₃ ceramics in extreme environments.     

Thermal shock behaviour of laminated multilayer refractories for steel casting applications reinforced by residual stresses

Ceramic multilayer structures based on tape cast alumina and zirconia substrates have been manufactured for use as carbon-free refractory materials. The laminates were reinforced via residual stresses due to shrinkage mismatch or differences in thermal expansion in order to achieve an improved thermal cycling capability. Thermal shock tests have been carried out using a plasma test stand. The impact of layer sequence and residual stresses has been demonstrated via measurement of Young's modulus and microstructure images of the layered structures. Hasselman parameters as well as the crack propagation behaviour at interfaces have been analysed via wedge splitting test.     

锆刚玉—莫来石泡沫陶瓷过滤器的研究及应用

以氧化铝粉和锆英石粉为原料，通过反应烧结制成了锆刚玉－莫来石泡沫陶瓷过滤器，研究了锆英石对抗弯强放抗热震性的影响，对球墨铸铁和铸钢的过滤试验结果表明，过滤后的夹杂物减少，冲击韧性明显提高。     

R-curves determination of ordinary refractory ceramics assisted by digital image correlation method

As a figure-of-merit, the rising ratio of crack propagation resistance to fracture initiation resistance indicates a reduction of the brittleness and enhances the thermal shock resistance of ordinary refractory ceramics. The significant nonlinear fracture behaviour is related to the development of a fracture process zone (FPZ). The universal dimensionless load–displacement diagram method is applied as a promising graphical method for the determination of R-curves for magnesia refractories showing different brittleness. By applying digital image correlation (DIC) together with the graphical method, the problems arisen with accurate determination of the fracture initiation resistance and the crack length are overcome. Meanwhile, the R-curve is subdivided with respect to the fracture processes, viz the fracture initiation, the development of FPZ and the onset of traction free macro-crack. With the simultaneous crack lengths evaluated from DIC, the contribution of each fracture process to the crack propagation resistance at certain loading stage is quantitatively presented.     

Contact damage tolerance of alumina-based layered ceramics with tailored microstructures

This work demonstrates how to enhance contact damage resistance of alumina-based ceramics combining tailored microstructures in a multilayer architecture. The multilayer system designed with textured alumina layers under compressive residual stresses embedded between alumina–zirconia layers was investigated under Hertzian contact loading and compared to the corresponding monolithic reference materials. Critical forces for crack initiation under spherical contact were detected through an acoustic emission system. Damage was assessed by combining cross-section polishing and ion-slicing techniques. It was found that a textured microstructure can accommodate the damage below the surface by shear-driven, quasi-plastic deformation instead of the classical Hertzian cone cracking observed in equiaxed alumina. In the multilayer system, a combination of both mechanisms, namely Hertzian cone cracking on the top (equiaxed) surface layer and quasi-plastic deformation within the embedded textured layer, was identified. Further propagation of cone cracks at higher loads was hindered and/or deflected owed to the combined action of the textured microstructure and compressive residual stresses. These findings demonstrate the potential of embedding textured layers as a strategy to enhance the contact damage tolerance in alumina ceramics.     

Computer-Aided, Single-Specimen Controlled Bending Test for Fracture-Kinetics Measurement in Ceramics

Fracture testing of ceramics by using controlled crack growth is proposed to allow study of crack-kinetics behavior under a given loading history. A computer-aided, real-time data acquisition system improves the quality of crack-growth parameters obtained in a simple, single-specimen bend test. Several ceramic materials were tested in the present study: aluminum nitride as a linear-elastic material; and alumina and yttria-stabilized zirconia, both representative of ceramics with microstructure-dependent nonlinear fracture properties. Ambiguities in the crack-growth diagrams are discussed to show the importance of accounting for crack-growth history in correctly describing nonequilibrium fracture behavior.     

泡沫陶瓷的研制

泡沫陶瓷是一种新型的功能陶瓷材料。它具有独特的结构和性能，在工业中有着广泛的应用前景。泡沫陶瓷具有密度小、透气性高、耐高温、抗化学腐蚀等特性。本研究对用颗粒强化的氧化铝骨架合成泡沫陶瓷进行了分析。这种材料比其它多孔陶瓷材料具有更好的热化学性质。这种材料可以用有机海绵浸浆获得，然后烧去海绵，留下多孔陶瓷网。这种方法的优点是它包含了过程参数和陶瓷结构，同时合成物的烧结情况及其它条件的影响在文中也有阐述。