THE FRACTURE-RESISTANCE OF A MODEL METAL CERAMIC INTERFACE

Crack propagation has been measured for the Al2O3/Au interface subject to conditions that exclude stress corrosion. Crack growth has been shown to occur with a rising resistance, governed by intact metal ligaments in the crack wake. The level of resistance also increases as the metal layer thickness increases. Crack extension occurs by a combination of plastic void growth and interface debonding. The fracture energies are much larger than the work of adhesion, but appreciably smaller than those expected for ductile interface fracture. The fracture energy is nevertheless dominated by plastic dissipation, which increases at larger metal layer thicknesses.