Nanostructured ceramic oxides with a slow crack growth resistance close to covalent materials.
Oxide ceramics are sensitive to slow crack growth because adsorption of water can take place at the crack tip, leading to a strong decrease of the surface energy in humid (or air) conditions. This is a major drawback concerning demanding, long-term applications such as orthopaedic implants. Here we show that a specific nanostructuration of ceramic oxides can lead to a crack resistance never reached before, similar to that of covalent ceramics.
Chevalier
J
J
Materials Department (UMR CNRS 5510), National Institute for Applied Sciences, 20 Avenue Albert Einstein, 69621 Villeurbanne, France. jorome.chevalier@insa.lyon.fr
Deville
S
S
Fantozzi
G
G
Bartolomé
J F
JF
Pecharroman
C
C
Moya
J S
JS
Diaz
L A
LA
Torrecillas
R
R
D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002516:Ceramics / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D006244:Hardness; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010087:Oxides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D015040:Zirconium / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D010087:Oxides; D014867:Water; D015040:Zirconium; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; C028541:zirconium oxide