Physical - Toughness | Characteristics of Fine Ceramics


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Overcoming Fragility: Zirconia Ceramics

Typically, ceramics are characterized by hardness as well as a lack of toughness.

The toughness of a material is measured by its resistance to fracturing. Among Fine Ceramics, zirconia possesses relatively high levels of toughness. As a result, it is used for products such as blades, scissors and knives.

Applications: Knives, scissors and other related products.

Toughness

Fracture toughness measures a fissured material's resistance to fracturing (whether the fissures exist throughout the material or only on its surface).

The fracture toughness of Fine Ceramics is measured using the critical stress intensity factor KIC at crack terminations where fracturing generally occurs. Though Fine Ceramics generally possess low fracture toughness, partially-stabilized zirconia, used for products such as scissors and knives, offers significant fracture-toughness improvements.

Fracture Toughness
Image : Graph of Fracture Toughness Fine Ceramics / Zirconia7~8MPa, Silicon Nitride5MPa, Silicon Carbide4~5MPa, Alumina3~4MPa, Metals / Stainless Steel210MPa, Cemented Carbide20MPa * Fine Ceramics are evaluated with KIC values.) (Measuring method / Fine Ceramics: based on the IF method specified in JIS R 1607-1990, Metals: based on the ASTM KIC Test)

For more information, please see Excerpt of Graph Values.