12.5 Imperfections in Ceramics
Imperfections include point defects and impurities. Their formation is strongly affected by the condition of charge neutrality (creation of unbalanced charges requires the expenditure of a large amount of energy.
Non-stoichiometry refers to a change in composition so that the elements in the ceramic are not in the proportion appropriate for the compound (condition known as stoichiometry). To minimize energy, the effect of non-stoichiometry is a redistribution of the atomic charges Charge neutral defects include the Frenkel and Schottky defects. A Frenkel-defect is a vacancy- interstitial pair of cations (placing large anions in an interstitial position requires a lot of energy in lattice distortion). A Schottky-defect is the a pair of nearby cation and anion vacancies.
Introduction of impurity atoms in the lattice is likely in conditions where the charge is maintained. This is the case of electronegative impurities that substitute a lattice anions or electropositive substitutional impurities. This is more likely for similar ionic radii since this minimizes the energy required for lattice distortion. Defects will appear if the charge of the impurities is not balanced.
12.6 Ceramic Phase
to be prepare
12.7 Brittle Fracture of Ceramics
The brittle fracture of ceramics limits applications. It occurs due to the unavoidable presence of microscopic flaws (micro-cracks, internal pores, and atmospheric contaminants) that result during cooling from the melt. The flaws need to crack formation, and crack propagation (perpendicular to the applied stress) is usually transgranular, along cleavage planes. The flaws cannot be closely controlled in manufacturing; this leads to a large variability (scatter) in the fracture strength of ceramic materials.
The compressive strength is typically ten times the tensile strength. This makes ceramics good structural materials under compression (e.g., bricks in houses, stone blocks in the pyramids), but not in conditions of tensile stress, such as under flexure.
Plastic deformation in crystalline ceramics is by slip, which is difficult due to the structure and the strong local (electrostatic) potentials. There is very little plastic deformation before fracture.
Non-crystalline ceramics, like common glass deform by viscous flow (like very high-density liquids). Viscosity decreases strongly with increases temperature.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
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