Diffusive crack-healing behavior in polycrystalline alumina: A comparison between microwave annealing and conventional annealing

Crack-healing experiments via both conventional heating and microwave heating were performed on Vickers-indented specimens of polycrystalline alumina (Coors ADS-995). For the entire temperature range included in this experiment (1510–1742 K), the crack-healing rate was enhanced for microwave heating compared to conventional heating. The microwave crack-healing data were described well by a diffusive mass transport model given by Stevens and Dutton.