Fracture toughness of ceramic composites based on ZrB2, TiB2
and SiC with low-modulus h-BN inclusions
M. P. Lukyanets, A. S. Buyakov, I. A. Fotin, V. V. Shmakov, E. V. Abdulmenova,
M. A. Rudmin, S. P. Buyakova
In this paper, the structure and properties of ceramic composites (ZrB2 – TiB2 – SiC) – (h-BN) are investigated. In the (ZrB2 – TiB2 – SiC) – (h-BN) system, the substitutional solid solution of (Zr0,83Ti0,17)B2 was formed, during the sintering process. The addition of low-modulus inclusions of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) provided an increase in fracture toughness (KIC) and flexural strength (σf). The highest values of KIC = 6.01 ± 0.09 MPa·m1/2 and σf = 544 ± 8 MPa of ceramic composites (ZrB2 – TiB2 – SiC) – (h-BN) were achieved with the addition of 5 vol % h-BN. The addition of low-modulus h-BN inclusions into the high-modulus ceramic matrix (ZrB2 – TiB2 – SiC) ensured the dissipation of crack energy at relatively weak internal interfaces of the “matrix–inclusion” due to crack bifurcation (the Cook – Gordon mechanism). In the (ZrB2 – TiB2 – SiC) – (h-BN) system, a significant increase in KIC of the studied composites is due to the action of two mechanisms: the Cook-Gordon mechanism and the stopping of cracks in the field of residual compressive stresses. It was found that as the volume content of h-BN increases, the contribution of the Cook-Gordon mechanism to the fracture toughness of ceramic composites (ZrB2 – TiB2 – SiC) – (h-BN) increases. However, a further increase in the h-BN content (over 5 vol %) leads to a significant decrease in the fracture toughness of ceramic composites (ZrB2 – TiB2 – SiC) – (h-BN).
Keywords: the Cook – Gordon mechanism, ceramic composite, (Zr,Ti)B2 solid solution, h-BN, fracture toughness КIC.
DOI: 10.30791/1028-978X-2025-9-40-50
Lukyanets Marianna — Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (634055, Tomsk, Akademicheskii pr., 2/4), graduate student, junior researcher, specialist in the field of materials science, structural design of ceramic materials, strength and reliability of ceramic products. E-mail: mpv97@ispms.ru.
Buyakov Ales — Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (634055, Tomsk, Akademicheskii pr., 2/4), PhD (phys-math) science, specialist in microscopy, in the field of materials science, structural design of ceramic materials, strength and reliability of ceramic products. E-mail: Alesbuyakov@ispms.ru.
Fotin Igor — Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (634055, Tomsk, Akademicheskii pr., 2/4), engineer, specialist in the field of sintering ceramic materials. E-mail: i.fotin2010@gmail.com.
Shmakov Vasiliy — Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (634055, Tomsk, Akademicheskii pr., 2/4), junior researcher, specialist in the field of XRD analysis. E-mail: vvshmakov@ispms.ru.
Abdulmenova Ekaterina — Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (634055, Tomsk, Akademicheskii pr., 2/4), PhD (Eng) sciense, specialist in the field of XRD analysis. E-mail: Ekaterina.V.Abdulmenova@yandex.ru.
Rudmin Maxim — Tomsk Polytechnic University, School of Earth Sciences & Engineering, (634050, Tomsk, Lenin Ave., 30), Dr.Sc. (geology and mineralogy), associate professor, specialist in microscopy. E-mail: rudminma@tpu.ru.
Buyakova Svetlana — Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (634055, Tomsk, Akademicheskii pr., 2/4), Dr.Sc. (Eng), professor, deputy director for research, head of Laboratory of Physical Mesomechanics of Materials and Non-Destructive Testing, specialist in the field of materials science, structural design of ceramic materials, strength and reliability of ceramic products. E-mail: sbuyakova@ispms.ru.
Reference citing:
Lukyanets M.P., Buyakov A.S., Fotin I.A., Shmakov V.V., Abdulmenova E.V., Rudmin M.A., Buyakova S.P. Treshchinostojkost' keramicheskih kompozitov na osnove ZrB2, TiB2 i SiC s nizkomodul'nymi vklyucheniyami h-BN [Fracture toughness of ceramic composites based on ZrB2, TiB2 and SiC with low-modulus h-BN inclusions]. Perspektivnye Materialy [Advanced Materials] (in Russ), 2025, no. 9, pp. 40 – 50. DOI: 10.30791/1028-978X-2025-9-40-50