Measurement of Interfacial Mechanical Properties in Fiber‐Reinforced Ceramic Composites

Abstract

Properties of the fiber/matrix interface in a SiC/glass‐ceramic composite were investigated using an indentation method in Which a pyramidal indenter is used to push on the fibers and cause sliding at the interface. An ultralow‐load indentation instrument was used to measure force and displacement continuously during loading, unloading, and load cycling. Frictional sliding and combined debonding/frictional sliding at the interface were analyzed. The analyses enabled the results to be used to provide a measure of the debond fracture energy, the magnitude of the frictional sliding stress, a measure of the uniformity of the frictional stress, and an indication of the sensitivity of the frictional stress to repeated sliding, varying load rate, and exposure to high temperatures.