ELEVATED-TEMPERATURE BEHAVIOR OF HIGH-STRENGTH SILICON-CARBIDE

The room- and high-temperature mechanical properties of a high-strengt h, sintered silicon carbide were evaluated. Room-temperature strength was measured in four-point bending. The room-temperature fracture toug hness was determined using a precracked single-edge-notched beam (SENB ) bridge indentation technique. The high-temperature behavior was eval uated using the stepped-temperature stress rupture (STSR) procedure. B oth the room- and the high-temperature behavior are superior to those of previously tested commercial sintered alpha and beta silicon carbid es.