Abstract
This paper discusses the effects of a film at the particle/matrix interface in a particle-dispersed ceramic composite on the stresses due to thermal contraction mismatch upon cooling by using the formal elastic theory. The dispersed particles are assumed to be spherical and uniformly covered with films of FGMs or of other materials having various properties.
Analysis is conducted for the particle/matrix systems, in particular for SiC/Al2O3 and Al2O3/MgO composites. Reduction of thermal stresses is shown to occur when the interfacial film is a sufficiently thick FGM film or has a lower Young's modulus.
Also, when the particle has a lower thermal expansion coefficient than the matrix, the interfacial stresses decrease as the thermal expansion coefficient of the film increases.
