抄録
Crack growth characteristics due to stress corrosion cracking and its fracture surface were investigated for Si3N4 ceramic using indentation pre-crack. The effect of test environment on the crack growth was studied. The effect of water environment on crack propagation is detrimental. In the prediction of residual life the effect of stress corrosion cracking should be considered. The ratio of intergranular fracture surface to transgranular fracture surface is relatively small (20-30%). The dominant fracture mechanism is considered to be the transgranular fracture.
