The strength and fracture toughness of polycrystalline magnesium oxide containing metallic particles and fibres

The transverse rupture strength of hot-pressed and annealed composites of magnesium oxide and dispersed metallic phases (nickel, iron, cobalt) increases with increasing volume fraction of metal and annealing temperature. The strengthening effect of the metal is attributed to an inhibition of grain growth while flaw healing occurs during the annealing of the composites. The strength of magnesium oxide hot-pressed with nickel fibres is not affected by the volume fraction of fibre or the annealing temperature, and is comparable to the strength of porous magnesia. However, the work of fracture, though insensitive to heat-treatment, increases by at least two orders of magnitude for a moderate volume fraction of randomly oriented fibres. Mechanisms of energy absorption during the fracture of composites containing weakly bonded, non-aligned fibres are discussed. They include the work done in plastically deforming the fibre as it is withdrawn from its socket. It is concluded that this mechanism may be of importance in composites containing very weakly bonded ductile fibres.