Mechanical Properties

Ceramic materials are more brittle than metals.

Why is this so?
• Consider mechanism of deformation
– In crystalline, by dislocation motion
– In highly ionic solids, dislocation motion is difficult
• few slip systems
• resistance to motion of ions of like charge (e.g., anions)
past one another

1
Flexural Tests – Measurement of Elastic
Modulus
• Room T behavior is usually elastic, with brittle failure.
• 3-Point Bend Testing often used.
-- tensile tests are difficult for brittle materials.

cross section F
L/2 L/2 Adapted from Fig. 12.32,
Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
d R
b d = midpoint
rect. circ.
deflection
• Determine elastic modulus according to:
F F L3
x E (rect. cross section)
F  4bd 3
slope =
d F L3
E (circ. cross section)
d  12R 4
linear-elastic behavior
2
 Flexural Tests – Measurement of Flexural
Strength
• 3-point bend test to measure room-T flexural strength.

cross section F
L/2 L/2 Adapted from Fig. 12.32,
Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
d R
b d = midpoint
rect. circ.
deflection
location of max tension

• Flexural strength: • Typical values:

Material s fs (MPa) E(GPa)
3Ff L
fs  (rect. cross section) Si nitride 250-1000 304
2
2bd Si carbide 100-820 345
Al oxide 275-700 393
Ff L glass (soda-lime) 69
fs  (circ. cross section) 69
3
R Data from Table 12.5, Callister & Rethwisch 8e.

3
• Room-temperature mechanical behavior – flexural tests
-- linear-elastic; measurement of elastic modulus
-- brittle fracture; measurement of flexural modulus

4
 Mechanical Properties of Polymers –
Stress-Strain Behavior
brittle polymer

plastic
elastomer
elastic moduli
– less than for metals Adapted from Fig. 15.1,
Callister & Rethwisch 8e.

• Fracture strengths of polymers ~ 10% of those for metals

• Deformation strains for polymers > 1000%
– for most metals, deformation strains < 10%
5 5
 Mechanisms of Deformation—Brittle
Crosslinked and Network Polymers
s (MPa) Near
Near
Initial Failure
Initial Failure x brittle failure

x plastic failure

aligned, crosslinked e network polymer

polymer Stress-strain curves adapted from Fig. 15.1,
Callister & Rethwisch 8e.

9 9
Semicrystalline polymers
 Mechanisms of Deformation — Semicrystalline
(Plastic) Polymers
s (MPa) fibrillar
structure
Stress-strain curves adapted
x brittle failure
from Fig. 15.1, Callister & near
Rethwisch 8e. Inset figures onset of
failure
along plastic response curve necking plastic failure
adapted from Figs. 15.12 &
15.13, Callister & Rethwisch
8e. (15.12 & 15.13 are from x
J.M. Schultz, Polymer
Materials Science, Prentice-
Hall, Inc., 1974, pp. 500-501.) unload/reload

e
crystalline
block segments
separate
undeformed
structure amorphous
crystalline
regions
regions align
elongate
11 11
 Predeformation by Drawing
• Drawing…(ex: monofilament fishline)
-- stretches the polymer prior to use
-- aligns chains in the stretching direction
• Results of drawing:
-- increases the elastic modulus (E) in the
stretching direction
-- increases the tensile strength (TS) in the
stretching direction
Adapted from Fig. 15.13, Callister
-- decreases ductility (%EL) & Rethwisch 8e. (Fig. 15.13 is
from J.M. Schultz, Polymer
• Annealing after drawing... Materials Science, Prentice-Hall,
-- decreases chain alignment Inc., 1974, pp. 500-501.)

-- reverses effects of drawing (reduces E and

TS, enhances %EL)
• Contrast to effects of cold working in metals!

12 12
 Mechanisms of Deformation—Elastomers
s(MPa)
x brittle failure Stress-strain curves
adapted from Fig. 15.1,
Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
Inset figures along
elastomer curve (green)
adapted from Fig. 15.15,
plastic failure
x Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
(Fig. 15.15 is from Z.D.
Jastrzebski, The Nature
x and Properties of
elastomer Engineering Materials,
3rd ed., John Wiley and
final: chains Sons, 1987.)
are straighter,
e still
cross-linked
initial: amorphous chains are deformation
kinked, cross-linked. is reversible (elastic)!
• Compare elastic behavior of elastomers with the:
-- brittle behavior (of aligned, crosslinked & network polymers), and
-- plastic behavior (of semicrystalline polymers)
(as shown on previous slides)
13 13
Why are fibers stronger than the bulk material?

How does molecular weight affect tensile strength?

How is the affect of % crystallization on tensile

strength?

What are the effects of temperature and strain rate

on tensile strength?