The ceramic fracture is a common in material failure, which ocurs when a material is composed of fine and brittle particles. The fracture usually happens when the material is under a tensile or bending stress which is greater than the material’s tensile strength. The fracture is usually accompanied by a characteristic surface feature, which can be a flat plane surface with a regular appearance, often referred to as a spider web pattern.
Ceramic fractures can be caused by several things, including the application of sudden temperature changes, poor mechanical design, poor manufacturing processes and improper raw material selection. The failure is usually attributed to a sudden decrease in the bond strength between particles in the material when the applied stress is beyond the elastic deformation of the material. This is the result of high temperature difference which could cause the particles to drastically fail without any warning.
In general, ceramics break if there are too much stress, too little strain, or a combination of both, applied to a material which is too hard to deform. This causes a fracture in the material, often in the center of the particle or grain where the most stress is applied.
A fracture in a ceramic material can distinguish itself in several ways. Frequently, the fracture appears with a flat plane surface with a regular, spider web pattern and involves only small pieces of material at the fracture surface. Due to the brittle nature of ceramics, typically the fracture at the surface will exhibit a jagged, sharp edge. However, depending on the particular material, some surfaces may show a smooth, almost glass-like surface. The fracture can also be visible on the entire surface of the material, or only at the location where the tensile stress or bending force was applied.
The surface of a ceramic fracture is important to examine when determining the cause of the fracture. The type of fracture and the surface pattern of the fracture can be used to diagnose the cause of failure. Whether the fracture is due to an applied temperature difference, poor mechanical design, improper raw material selection, or manufacturing processes, can be determined by closely inspecting the fracture surface.
In order to prevent future ceramic fractures and ensure the material is utilized properly, a number of parameters can be examined. First, the mechanical design must be appropriate for the particular material. Second, proper manufacturing processes must be in place to guarantee the uniformity of material composition. Finally, the raw material selection should be suitable for the application and should be readily available.
Ceramic fractures are common and can cause major issues for applications when not handled properly. However, with proper material design, manufacturing processes, and material selection, these issues can be avoided. Keeping all of these parameters in mind when designing, manufacturing, and selecting material can save valuable time and money in the long run.
