ROOM-TEMPERATURE TENSILE AND FLEXURAL STRENGTH OF CERAMICS IN ALN-SICSYSTEM

Tensile and bend strength were obtained for four compositions in the a luminum nitride-silicon carbide system: AlN, 75%AlN-25%SiC particulate , 50%AlN-50%SiC solid solution and SiC. Room temperature tensile stren gth, four-point bend strength, and the Weibull parameters for each of the rested materials are presented. Optical and SEM fractography were employed to identify failure initiating flaws for the fractured tensil e specimens. The four-point bend strength is predicted using the Weibu ll tensile parameters and compared to measured values. Accuracy of the predicted results are rationalized based on observed microstructures and failure initiating flaws.