This book presents the descriptions of individual treatments and resulting improvements in the strength of polycrystalline ceramics and oxide single crystals. It provides information on potential applications, limitations of the treatments, design considerations, and costs.

This book discusses the mechanical properties of ceramics and aims to provide both a solid background for undergraduate students, as well as serving as a text to bring practicing engineers up to date with the latest developments in this topic so they can use and apply these to their actual engineering work. Generally, ceramics are made by moistening a mixture of clays, casting it into desired shapes and then firing it to a high temperature, a process known as 'vitrification'. The relatively late development of metallurgy was contingent on the availability of ceramics and the know-how to mold them into the appropriate forms. Because of the characteristics of ceramics, they offer great advantages over metals in specific applications in which hardness, wear resistance and chemical stability at high temperatures are essential. Clearly, modern ceramics manufacturing has come a long way from the early clay-processing fabrication method, and the last two decades have seen the development of sophisticated techniques to produce a large variety of ceramic material. The chapters of this volume are ordered to help students with their laboratory experiments and guide their observations in parallel with lectures based on the current text. Thus, the first chapter is devoted to mechanical testing. A chapter of ductile and superplastic ceramic is added to emphasize their role in modern ceramics (chapter 2). These are followed by the theoretical basis of the subject. Various aspects of the mechanical properties are discussed in the following chapters, among them, strengthening mechanisms, time dependent and cyclic deformation of ceramics. Many practical illustrations are provided representing various observations encountered in actual ceramic-structures of particularly technical significance. A comprehensive list of references at the end of each chapter is included in this textbook to provide a broad basis for further studying the subject. The work also contains a unique chapter on a topic not discussed in other textbooks on ceramics concerning nanosized ceramics. This work will also be useful as a reference for materials scientists, not only to those who specialize in ceramics.

Ceramic nanocomposites have been found to have improved hardness, strength, toughness and creep resistance compared to conventional ceramic matrix composites. Ceramic nanocomposites reviews the structure and properties of these nanocomposites as well as manufacturing and applications.Part one looks at the properties of different ceramic nanocomposites, including thermal shock resistance, flame retardancy, magnetic and optical properties as well as failure mechanisms. Part two deals with the different types of ceramic nanocomposites, including the use of ceramic particles in metal matrix composites, carbon nanotube-reinforced glass-ceramic matrix composites, high temperature superconducting ceramic nanocomposites and ceramic particle nanofluids. Part three details the processing of nanocomposites, including the mechanochemical synthesis of metallic–ceramic composite powders, sintering of ultrafine and nanosized ceramic and metallic particles and the surface treatment of carbon nanotubes using plasma technology. Part four explores the applications of ceramic nanocomposites in such areas as energy production and the biomedical field.With its distinguished editors and international team of expert contributors, Ceramic nanocomposites is a technical guide for professionals requiring knowledge of ceramic nanocomposites, and will also offer a deeper understanding of the subject for researchers and engineers within any field dealing with these materials. - Reviews the structure and properties of ceramic nanocomposites as well as their manufacturing and applications - Examines properties of different ceramic nanocomposites, as well as failure mechanisms - Details the processing of nanocomposites and explores the applications of ceramic nanocomposites in areas such as energy production and the biomedical field

Focusing on the machining of ceramic materials such as silicon nitride, silicon carbide, and zirconia, this handbook meets the growing need in industry for a clear understanding of modern improvements in ceramic processing. The presentation is international in scope, with techniques and information represented from the USA, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdomùcountries that have made important contributions to the field. The 20 expert chapter authors explore the challenge of reducing the costs of machining operations, a continuing problem in an industry where ceramic parts must be machined into final form to achieve a proper fit. The handbook reveals that the abrasive machining of ceramic materials will always be a requirement because of the difficulty of controlling parts dimensions at the high temperatures required in their creation. The contributors then explain the properties and characteristics of ceramics, the various types of abrasive processes, and typical tests used in the procedures. An entire section of the handbook concerns grinding tools, their conditioning, lubrication, and cooling, checking for wear on the tools, and using them efficiently. The book also examines modern honing and superfinishing tools and machines, and describes advances in the technology, as well as lapping and polishing techniques using chemical compounds and ultrasound.Ceramics is a field where more advanced products are sure to appear. Many of the products will require advanced, better-controlled processing technologies; vastly improved productivity in manufacturing; and increased product reliability. The contributors to this Handbook will assist readers in the attainment of these important goals.

Updated and improved, this revised edition of Michel Barsoum's classic text Fundamentals of Ceramics presents readers with an exceptionally clear and comprehensive introduction to ceramic science. Barsoum offers introductory coverage of ceramics, their structures, and properties, with a distinct emphasis on solid state physics and chemistry. Key equations are derived from first principles to ensure a thorough understanding of the concepts involved. The book divides naturally into two parts. Chapters 1 to 9 consider bonding in ceramics and their resultant physical structures, and the electrical, thermal, and other properties that are dependent on bonding type. The second part (Chapters 11 to 16) deals with those factors that are determined by microstructure, such as fracture and fatigue, and thermal, dielectric, magnetic, and optical properties. Linking the two sections is Chapter 10, which describes sintering, grain growth, and the development of microstructure. Fundamentals of Ceramics is ideally suited to senior undergraduate and graduate students of materials science and engineering and related subjects.

A Comprehensive and Self-Contained Treatment of the Theory and Practical Applications of Ceramic Materials When failure occurs in ceramic materials, it is often catastrophic, instantaneous, and total. Now in its Second Edition, this important book arms readers with a thorough and accurate understanding of the causes of these failures and how to design ceramics for failure avoidance. It systematically covers: Stress and strain Types of mechanical behavior Strength of defect-free solids Linear elastic fracture mechanics Measurements of elasticity, strength, and fracture toughness Subcritical crack propagation Toughening mechanisms in ceramics Effects of microstructure on toughness and strength Cyclic fatigue of ceramics Thermal stress and thermal shock in ceramics Fractography Dislocation and plastic deformation in ceramics Creep and superplasticity of ceramics Creep rupture at high temperatures and safe life design Hardness and wear And more While maintaining the first edition's reputation for being an indispensable professional resource, this new edition has been updated with sketches, explanations, figures, tables, summaries, and problem sets to make it more student-friendly as a textbook in undergraduate and graduate courses on the mechanical properties of ceramics.

Several ceramic parts have already proven their suitability for serial application in automobile engines in very impressive ways, especially in Japan, the USA and in Germany. However, there is still a lack of economical quality assurance concepts. Recently, a new generation of ceramic components, for the use in energy, transportation and environment systems, has been developed. The efforts are more and more system oriented in this field. The only possibility to manage this complex issue in the future will be interdisciplinary cooperation. Chemists, physicists, material scientists, process engineers, mechanical engineers and engine manufacturers will have to cooperate in a more intensive way than ever before. The R&D activities are still concentrating on gas turbines and reciprocating engines, but also on brakes, bearings, fuel cells, batteries, filters, membranes, sensors and actuators as well as on shaping and cutting tools for low expense machining of ceramic components. This book summarizes the scientific papers of the 7th International Symposium "Ceramic Materials and Components for Engines". Some of the most fascinating new applications of ceramic meterials in energy, transportation and environment systems are presented. The proceedings shall lead to new ideas for interdisciplinary activities in the future.