Chinese scientists have successfully introduced tensile plasticity to ceramics, making them more flexible and expanding their range of applications. Ceramics are known for their durability and resistance to high temperatures and corrosion, making them valuable in many high-tech fields. However, there is a significant drawback: ceramics are brittle, meaning they break easily, limiting their use in certain applications. By achieving tensile plasticity at room temperature, Chinese scientists have made a groundbreaking advancement. How did they overcome the brittleness of ceramics and what makes this research so important? Here are the detailsโฆ
First Ever Room Temperature Tensile Plasticity in Ceramics Chinese scientists have managed to make these brittle ceramics more flexible by employing a mechanism known as “dislocation” similar to what is used in metals. This innovation allows ceramics to withstand tensile (stretching) forces and achieve up to 39.9% elongation. This means that ceramics will now be less prone to breaking and can be used in a wider variety of applications. This development could have a significant impact on the technology and industry sectors, leading to more durable electronics, more reliable spacecraft, and stronger structures.
Advanced Ceramic Materials possess exceptional properties such as resistance to high temperatures, corrosion resistance, high hardness, and low density, making them crucial in many high-tech areas. However, the brittle nature of ceramics has severely limited their reliability and range of use. Enhancing the durability and plasticity of ceramic materials has been one of the most challenging and important research topics in this field.
Chen Kexin from Beijing University of Science and Technology and his team had previously achieved compressive plasticity in ceramics. Now, in collaboration with Wang Jinshu from Beijing University of Technology and Huang Mingxin from the University of Hong Kong, they have applied a metal-like dislocation mechanism to achieve tensile plasticity in ceramics. With this method, ceramics have achieved a tensile deformation rate of 39.9
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