DEFORMATION TEXTURES IN HOT-WORKED POLYPHASE CERAMICS

In ceramic composites the differential deformation rates between matri x, reinforcement and grain boundary phases provide a diverse spectrum of mechanical response. In addition to texture development from high t emperature plastic deformation via slip or recrystallization, textures in ceramics can result from grain rotation of anisometric grains or r einforcements. Preferred orientation of anisometric grains can also re sult in orientation-based strengthening. Examples of high temperature deformation textures in ceramics based on alumina, silicon nitride and ceramic composites reinforced with whiskers or platelets are discusse d. Each viable mechanism for texture development is considered with co mparison of current models to experimental results. The results demons trate that current dislocation slip and rigid body rotation models may provide only qualitative results.