Article

Repeated crack healing in MAX-phase ceramics revealed by 4D in situ synchrotron X-ray tomographic microscopy

Willem G. SloofDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD, Delft, The NetherlandsRuizhi PeiSchool of Materials, Manchester University M13 9PL, UKSamuel McDonaldSchool of Materials, Manchester University M13 9PL, UKJulie L. FifeSwiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, SwitzerlandLu ShenDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD, Delft, The NetherlandsLinda BoatemaaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD, Delft, The NetherlandsAnn‐Sophie FarleDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD, Delft, The NetherlandsKun YanSchool of Materials, Manchester University M13 9PL, UKXun ZhangSchool of Materials, Manchester University M13 9PL, UKSybrand van der ZwaagFaculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS, Delft, The NetherlandsPeter LeeResearch Complex at Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0FA, UKPhilip J. WithersResearch Complex at Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0FA, UK

2016en

ABI

Abstract

MAX phase materials are emerging as attractive engineering materials in applications where the material is exposed to severe thermal and mechanical conditions in an oxidative environment. The Ti2AlC MAX phase possesses attractive thermomechanical properties even beyond a temperature of 1000 K. An attractive feature of this material is its capacity for the autonomous healing of cracks when operating at high temperatures. Coupling a specialized thermomechanical setup to a synchrotron X-ray tomographic microscopy endstation at the TOMCAT beamline, we captured the temporal evolution of local crack opening and healing during multiple cracking and autonomous repair cycles at a temperature of 1500 K. For the first time, the rate and position dependence of crack repair in pristine Ti2AlC material and in previously healed cracks has been quantified. Our results demonstrate that healed cracks can have sufficient mechanical integrity to make subsequent cracks form elsewhere upon reloading after healing.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1038/srep23040

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