• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.433-441
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• 1998

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of surface flaw on the fracture of all-ceramic materials. A feldspathic porce lain of VMK68, a cashable ceramic of IPS-Empress, and an alumina-glass composite of In-Ceram were used. Specimens were prepared as 12$\times$3$\times$1mm in dimensions, and a Vickers-produced indentation crack was made at the center of the tensile surface. Test specimens were immersed in dlstilled water and In oil, which were broken under a crosshead speed of 0.05 mm/min by 3-point bend test at 37$^{\circ}C$. The characteristic patterns of Vickers indentation and fracture surfaces were examined by an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope. The fracture surfaces of the VMK68 and the IPS-Empress showed a median crack pattern at the fracture origin and indicated a tendency to cleavage hackle. The fracture surface of the alumina-glass composite, In-Ceram, showed a Palmqvist crack pattern at the fracture origin and indicated a tendency of toughening by the frictional Interlocking between the microstructurally rough fracture surfaces.