Fracture of a brittle composite: influence of elastic mismatch and interfacial bonding

Studies of a glass-Ni sphere system show that optimum toughness results for G sub i less than or equal to G sub m (G sub i, G sub m=elastic rigidity moduli for inclusion and matrix) and with interfacial bond strengths sufficient to allow plastic deformation of the dispersed phase. The dispersion of a ductile second phase with high interfacial bond strength but G sub i greater than G sub m reduces effective crack/particle interactions. To increase the toughness in this case, weak interfacial bonding is necessary.