Influence of interfacial strength on the fracture toughness of glass-ceramic matrix composites

Nine kinds of glass-ceramic matrix composites with different compositions and interfacial strength (τ _s) were prepared. The influence of τ _s on the fracture toughness(K _1c) of composites was studied. It was discoved that, for the system no chemical reaction taking place at the interface, K _1c increased proportionally with τ _s increasing at the first stage, then decreased when τ _s reached a certain value. According to this result, a model of relationship between τ _s, thermal mismatch (Δα _r) and K _1c was built up. If a chemical reaction took place and a new phase was formed in the interface, the K _1c of composite was effected by the combination of τ _s, chemical bonding, radial interfacial stress and other factors. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Synopsis of the first author Wang Lingsen, professor, born in 1938, current research field: special ceramic and ceramic matrix composite, etc.