Characterization of subsurface damage of explosively indented silicon nitride ceramics

Abstract

In this study, explosive indentations were used to characterize the dynamic damage behavior of silicon nitride ceramics with different microstructures. Three grades of silicon nitrides with different grain size and shape were prepared. Subsurface damage of specimens was characterized extensively using optical and electron microscopy. It was found that the dynamic damage response depends strongly on the microstructure of specimens, particularly on the glassy grain boundary phase.