Prediction of strength of recrystallized siliconcarbide from pore size measurement - Part I - The bimodality of the distribution

The bending strength values of more than 100 specimens of a recrystallized siliconcarbide ceramic (RSiC) show a distinct bimodal Weibull distribution. By measuring the number and size of surface pores, calculating the distribution of volume pores and choosing appropriate shape factors for the pores in the volume and for those close to the surface, the two modes of the Weibull distribution of the strength values can be predicted. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.