Fractographic studies of sapphire fibers using laser scanning confocal microscopy

Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) is a microscopic technique which allows for height discrimination. The ability to gather 3D data, along with adequate resolution (around 400 nm), makes the technique suitable for fractography; however, its applications in this area are not sufficiently explored. In this work, LSCM and SEM are applied to the study of fracture surfaces in sapphire and ruby fibers submitted to tensile stress in high-temperature conditions. The obtained qualitative and quantitative information demonstrates the validity of LSCM as a fractographical technique, allowing for clear identification of fractographical features and providing novel insight in the phenomenon of subcritical crack growth (SCG).