X-ray measurement of phase stresses of zirconia-alumina composite.

Abstract

Phase stresses in alumina and zirconia phases of composite ceramics were measured by using the X-ray diffractions from Al2O3 (1. 0. 10) and ZrO2 (133) by Cr-Ka radiation. Under tension, the phase stress in each phase increased linearly with the applied strain. The stress in Al2O3 was larger than that in ZrO2. The macrostress calculated from phase stresses by the rule of mixture was equal to the applied stress. The residual macrostress was compression on the ground surface. The compressive residual macrostress was larger with increasing the diamond grain size of a cutting wheel. For a given grinding condition, it was larger in the direction perpendicular to the grinding direction than in the parallel direction. The microstress in Al2O3 was compression, while that in ZrO2 was tension. The compressive macrostress zone extended about 10 to 15 μm in depth from the surface for the cases of grinding by #600 and #200 diamond wheels. The broadening of the X-ray diffraction profile was also detected within this zone.