Fracture toughness evaluation of NiAl single crystals by microcantilevers—a new continuous J-integral method

Language
en
Document Type
Article
Issue Date
2017-11-20
Issue Year
2016
Authors
Ast, Johannes
Merle, Benoit
Durst, Karsten
Göken, Mathias
Editor
Abstract

The fracture toughness of NiAl single crystals is evaluated with a new method based on the J-integral concept. The new technique allows the measurement of continuous crack resistance curves at the microscale by continuously recording the stiffness of the microcantilevers with a nanoindenter. The experimental procedure allows the determination of the fracture toughness directly at the onset of stable crack growth. Experiments were performed on notched microcantilevers which were prepared by focused ion beam milling from NiAl single crystals. Stoichiometric NiAl crystals and NiAl crystals containing 0.14 wt% Fe were investigated in the so-called “hard” orientation. The fracture toughness was evaluated to be 6.4 ± 0.5 MPa m1/2 for the stoichiometric sample and 7.1 ± 0.5 MPa m1/2 for the iron containing sample, indicating that the addition of iron enhances the ductility. This effect is intensified with ongoing crack propagation where the Fe-containing sample exhibits a stronger crack resistance behavior than the stoichiometric NiAl single crystal. These findings are in good agreement with macroscopic fracture toughness measurements, and validate the new micromechanical testing approach.

Journal Title
Journal of Materials Research
Volume
31
Issue
23
Citation
Journal of Materials Research 31.23 (2016): S. 3786-3794. <https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2016.393>
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