Room temperature fatigue of ZrB2–SiC ceramic composites

Room temperature time dependent properties of ZrB2–30 wt%SiC ceramic composite have been studied. Both static slow crack growth and cyclic fatigue deformation have been investigated. While static slow crack growth has been evaluated only in air, three different environments, water, air, and dry air, have been used to study the cyclic fatigue. It was established that under cyclic fatigue the environment plays an important role and humidity significantly facilitate crack growth in ZrB2–30wt%SiC. The fractography of selected ZrB2–30wt%SiC samples was performed and it was established that both defects introduced during machining as well as larger defects introduced during the processing served as fracture origins of ceramic composites.