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Electric‐Field‐Induced Crack Growth Behavior in PZT/Al 2 O 3 Composites

2000; Wiley; Volume: 83; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1151-2916.2000.tb01248.x

1551-2916

Kenichi Tajima, Hae Jin Hwang, Mutsuo Sando, Koichi Niihara,

Rock Mechanics and Modeling

Hard lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and PZT/Al 2 O 3 composites were prepared and the alternating‐electric‐field‐induced crack growth behavior of a precrack above the coercive field was evaluated via optical and scanning electron microscopy. The crack extension in the 1.0 vol% Al 2 O 3 composite was significantly smaller than that in monolithic PZT and the 0.5 vol% Al 2 O 3 composite. Secondary‐phase Al 2 O 3 dispersoids were found both at grain boundaries and within grains in the composites. A large number of dispersoids were observed at the grain boundaries in the 1.0 vol% Al 2 O 3 composite. It appears that the Al 2 O 3 dispersoids reinforce the grain boundaries of the PZT matrix as well as act as effective pins against microcrack propagation.