@inproceedings{194a512fa8894ae3ab02941ae943cc4d,
title = "Fracture toughness modifications by means of CO2 laser beam surface processing of a silicon nitride engineering ceramic",
abstract = " Surface treatment of an Si 3 N 4 engineering ceramic with a CO 2 laser was carried out to identify changes in the fracture toughness (K 1c ). A Vickers macro hardness indentation method was adopted to determine the K 1C prior to and after the CO 2 laser treatment. After determination of the surface integrity, crack geometry, crack lengths and the dimensions of the diamond indentations, computational and analytical methods were employed to calculate the K 1c . A decrease in the surface hardness of nearly 7% and of 44% in the resulting crack lengths was found after laser treatment. This inherently led to a 64% increase in the K 1c for the Si 3 N 4 . This could have occurred due to melting and redistribution of the melt zone which softened the near (top) surface layer forming a degree of oxidation, causing the surface of the engineering ceramic to transform into a new composition. ",
keywords = "CO laser, K, Si N engineering ceramic",
author = "Shukla, {P. P.} and J. Lawrence",
year = "2010",
month = jul,
day = "14",
doi = "10.1007%2F978-1-84996-432-6",
language = "English",
isbn = "9781849964319",
series = "Proceedings of the 36th International MATADOR Conference",
publisher = "Springer-Verlag London Ltd",
pages = "519--522",
editor = "S Hinduja and L Li",
booktitle = "Proceedings of the 36th International MATADOR Conference",
address = "United Kingdom",
note = "36th International MATADOR Conference ; Conference date: 14-07-2010 Through 16-07-2010",
}