Strength Distributions of a Quench-Strengthened Aluminosilicate Ceramic

The quench strengthening of an aluminosilicate ceramic body was studied by measuring the strengths and determining the strength distributions, estimating the residual compressive stresses at the surface by measuring the bending moments, and directly observing the surface crack patterns of quench-strengthened specimens. When considered in combination, these related results enable the assessment of the individual contributions of the residual compressive surface stresses and the changes in the flaw populations to the quench strengthening phenomenon. The quench strengthening phenomenon is discussed as a combination of those features of the process and a general schematic diagram of the phenomenon is presented.