Date of Award

2009

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.Sc.

Department

Mechanical, Automotive, and Materials Engineering

Keywords

Engineering, Automotive.

Supervisor

Alpas, Ahmet (Mechanical, Automotive & Materials Engineering)

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

Vickers micro-indentation tests were performed on second-phase particles of Al- 18.5wt.%Si and results were compared with those of monolithic silicon. Damage microstructures beneath indented second-phase silicon particles were studied to determine the crack morphologies causing particle fracture, and also to identify the role of indentation-induced phase transformations on subsurface damage. Plastic deformation at low loads and volume expansion due to subsurface crack formation at high loads (>650 mN) were responsible for pile-up formations around the indentations. The probability of lateral cracks reaching the surface and causing particle fracture was shown to obey Weibull statistics with a low modulus. Diamond cubic Si-I transformed into bcc Si-III and rhombohedral Si-XII, under an estimated indentation pressure of 19.3 GPa. Crosssectional FIB and TEM revealed a semi-circular plastic core and subsurface lateral crack pattern below the residual indents, in addition to a localized, amorphous silicon zone below the plastic core at the median crack edges.

Share

COinS