An Investigation of Thermal Shock in Porous Clay Ceramics

Figure 4

Schematic of observed toughening mechanisms due to viscous bridging in clay samples: (a) 45–63 μm, 𝑁=1, showing viscous bridging ligaments at the crack tip; (b) 125–255 μm, 𝑁=1, showing less ligament bridging at the crack tip compared to (a); (c) 45–63 μm, 𝑁=2, showing shattered bridging ligaments due to thermal shock.

(a)

(b)

(c)