Fracture mechanisms of polycrystalline advanced ceramics

Polycrystalline advanced ceramics are synthetic products produced by sintering together selected ceramics grains in a metal matrix serving as a binder. In order to be able to propose their optimisation, achieving high performance cutting and leading to reduced operating costs and improved working environment, relevant fracture mechanisms involved in their failure need to be determined. In this work, experimental results of plane strain fracture toughness obtained earlier on single-edge-V-notched-beam specimens were supported with microscopy analysis. These findings establish a clear connection between the fracture toughness results and the fracture mechanisms visible on and beneath the fracture surfaces, revealing adiabatic conditions that occur at the crack tip during fracture.