Prediction of strength of recrystallized silicon carbide from pore size measurement. I. The bimodality of the distribution

The bending strength values of > 100 specimens of a recrystallized silicon carbide 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.