Fracture Mechanics Characterization of Sintered 30 Vol.-% Al₂O₃/TRIP Steel Composites Using SENB Miniature Samples

Abstract:

Ceramic particle reinforced metal matrix composites (PRMMCs) combine the strength and brittleness of ceramics with the toughness of a metallic matrix. In order to use these materials in construction and operational design their fracture mechanical behavior must be evaluated. In this study, a 30 vol.-% Al₂O₃ reinforced austenitic TRIP steel processed by powder metallurgical technique was investigated using precracked miniature SENB-specimens in 3-point-bending. An elastic-plastic analysis by means of the J-integral method in combination with optical crack observation showed the materials ability of stable crack growth, i. e. R-curve behavior. In addition to the mechanical tests microstructural studies were performed, whereby particle debonding and fracture as well as martensitic phase transformation and crack bridging within the matrix were identified as fracture energy dissipating mechanisms.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volumes 825-826)
• Pages: 899-906
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.825-826.899
• Online since: July 2015
• Authors: Ralf Eckner*, Alexander Illgen, Markus Radajewski, Lutz Krüger
• Keywords: 3-Point-Bending, Austenite, Fracture Toughness, Metal Matrix Composite (MMC), R-Curve, TRIP Steel

References

[1] N. Chawla, K. K. Chawla, Metal-matrix composites in ground transportation, JOM 58 (2006) 67-70.

DOI: 10.1007/s11837-006-0231-5

[2] E. S. C. Chin, Army focused research team on functionally graded armor composites, Mater. Sci. Eng. A259 (1999) 155-161.

DOI: 10.1016/s0921-5093(98)00883-1

[3] S. Kumar, W. A. Curtin, Crack interaction with microstructure, Mater. Today 10 (2007) 34-44.

[4] S. Martin, S. Wolf, U. Martin, L. Krüger, D. Rafaja, Deformation mechanisms in austenitic TRIP/TWIP steel as a function of temperature, Met. Mat. Trans. A (2014), DOI: 10. 1007/s11661-014-2684-4.

DOI: 10.1007/s11661-014-2684-4

[5] S. D. Antolovich, B. Singh, On the toughness increment associated with the austenite to martensite phase transformation in TRIP steels, Metall. Trans. 2 (1971) 2135-2141.

DOI: 10.1007/bf02917542

[6] Y. Zhou, Y. Guo, D. Li, X. Duan, Effects of load mode on mechanical properties of ZrO2(2Y)/TRIP steel composites, Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 13 (2003) 1086-1091.

[7] S. Martin, S. Richter, S. Decker, U. Martin, L. Krüger, D. Rafaja, Reinforcing mechanisms of Mg-PSZ particles in highly-alloyed TRIP steel, Steel Res. Int. 82 (2011) 1133-1140.

DOI: 10.1002/srin.201100099

[8] D. Ehinger, L. Krüger, U. Martin, C. Weigelt, C. G. Aneziris, Strain rate effect and material behavior of TRIP-steel/Zirconia honeycomb structures, Steel Res. Int. 82 (2011) 1048- 1056.

DOI: 10.1002/srin.201100076

[9] B. G. Park, A. G. Crosky, A. K. Hellier, Fracture toughness of microsphere Al2O3–Al particulate metal matrix composites, Composites: Part B 39 (2008) 1270-1279.

DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2008.01.005

[10] A. Rabiei, L. Vendra, T. Kishi, Fracture behavior of particle reinforced metal matrix composites, Composites: Part A 39 (2008) 294-300.

DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2007.10.018

[11] Y. Flom, R. J. Arsenault, Effect of particle size on fracture toughness of SiC/Al composite material, Acta metal. 37 (1989) 2413-2423.

DOI: 10.1016/0001-6160(89)90039-4

[12] H. Jelitto, F. Hackbarth, H. Özcoban, G. A. Schneider, Automated control of stable crack growth for R-curve measurements in brittle materials. Exp. Mech. 53 (2013) 163-170.

DOI: 10.1007/s11340-012-9622-4

[13] K. Tohgo, T. Suzuki, H. Araki, Evaluation of R-curve behavior of ceramic–metal functionally graded materials by stable crack growth, Eng. Fract. Mech. 72 (2005) 2359-2372.

DOI: 10.1016/j.engfracmech.2005.03.006

[14] F. Felten, G. A. Schneider, T. Sadowski, Estimation of R-curve in WC/Co cermet by CT test, Int. J. Refract. Met. Hard Mater. 26 (2008) 55-60.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2007.01.005

[15] A. Jahn, A. Kovalev, A. Weiß, S. Wolf, L. Krüger, P. R. Scheller, Temperature depending influence of the martensite formation on the mechanical properties of high-alloyed Cr-Mn-Ni as-cast steels, Steel Res. Int. 82 (2011) 39-44.

DOI: 10.1002/srin.201000228

[16] ISO 12135: 2002, Metallic materials - Unified method of test for the determination of quasistatic fracture toughness.

[17] ASTM E 1820 - 06, Standard Test Method for Measurement of Fracture Toughness.

[18] DIN EN 843-2: 2006, Advanced technical ceramics - Mechanical properties of monolithic ceramics at room temperature - Part 2: Determination of Young's modulus, shear modulus and Poisson's ratio.

DOI: 10.3403/30125781u

[19] J. M. Krafft, A. M. Sullivan, R. W. Boyle, Effect of dimensions on fast fracture instability of notched sheets, Proceedings: Crack Propagation Symposium 1 (1962) 8-26.