Toughening Mechanisms for Ceramics in Automotive Applications

Insuring the strength of ceramic materials in automotive applications requires the understanding of the operative strength-determining parameters, one of which is the fracture toughness. Toughening mechanisms in ceramics will be reviewed here, including crack shielding and crack interaction mechanisms. Also covered in this review will be a discussion of surface strengthening effects, as well as recent developments in ceramic matrix fiber composites. Experimental examples of each of the toughening mechanisms will be presented.