Mechanical properties and fracture behavior of Al2O3 laminates with different architectures

Fibrous, multilayered and hybrid Al2O3 laminates were fabricated by extrusion and hot-pressing techniques. The effects of different architectures on the mechanical properties and fracture behavior are investigated. It is shown that hybrid laminates may provide a considerable flexibility and tailorability in mechanical behavior. An alternative arrangement of the fibrous and monolithic layers in hybrid laminates gives an average strength of up to 450 MPa, an apparent toughness of similar to 11 MPa m(1/2) and a fracture energy in excess of 2600 J/m(2), with a non-catastrophic fracture behavior. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.