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The fracture energy of brittle crystals

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Abstract

An expression is derived for the fracture energy, γ, in brittle crystals, namely, γ = kd 0 E, d 0 being the lattice spacing, E Young’s modulus perpendicular to the fracture plane, and k is a constant. The value of γ obtained through this expression is compared to experimental data for cubic crystals. Despite the fit, we conclude that because the fracture energy is dominated by the elastic constant, comparisons between a computed γ and experimental data cannot be used to distinguish between bonding functions.

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Notes

  1. We recognize that experimental values of γ were not obtained reversibly as defined in Eq. 1, so should lead to greater than predicted values of fracture energy.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are particularly grateful to Ed Fuller and Grady White for their contributions to the development of the general expression for fracture and analysis of the elastic properties.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Freiman Consulting, Potomac, MD, 20854, USA

    S. W. Freiman

  2. Materials Science and Engineering Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    J. J. Mecholsky Jr.

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  1. S. W. Freiman
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  2. J. J. Mecholsky Jr.
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Correspondence to S. W. Freiman.

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Freiman, S.W., Mecholsky, J.J. The fracture energy of brittle crystals. J Mater Sci 45, 4063–4066 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-010-4491-7

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