2012 Volume 6 Issue 2 Pages 144-153
The combination effects of shot peening (SP) and crack-healing on the contact strength of ceramics were investigated. Si3N4/SiC composite ceramics with high crack-healing ability were subjected to SP using zirconium oxide shots with several peening pressures and shot diameters. Then, some of the specimens subjected to SP were heat-treated in air to heal the surface cracks induced by SP. The residual stress, the apparent fracture toughness and the Weibull distribution of the contact strength were investigated. As a result, it was found that the combination of SP and crack-healing is effective for increasing the contact strength and decreasing the scatter of the contact strength.
