LAYERED CERAMICS: Processing and Mechanical Behavior

Recent progress in the field of mechanical behavior of layered ceramics is reviewed. Several processing techniques are described with reference to the fabrication of ceramic laminates. These include tape-casting, centrifugal casting, slip-casting, electrophoretic deposition (EPD), and the production of fibrous monolith materials. The review discusses various laminar design approaches for achieving improvements in strength, toughness, work of fracture, R-Curve behavior, and contact damage resistance. Examples of effective strategies include manipulation of residual stresses, the incorporation of weak interlayers to induce crack deflection, and promotion of synergistic effects between layer materials that exhibit intrinsically different responses.