Strain and fracture mechanism of Cu–TiC

Abstract Strain and fracture mechanisms of Cu–TiC system with 5.3 vol % TiC was studied by an `in situ tensile test in SEM'. It was shown that during tensile strain the first cracks appear in the places with the largest strain after decohesion of larger particles or clusters of small particles from the matrix. A further stress increase causes the formation of `saw-like fracture' in an angle of 45° by interconnecting the rows of particles in the direction of tension. The fracture morphology is transcrystalline ductile. A model of fracture mechanism of the investigated system was suggested.