Title: STRESS MEASUREMENTS IN CERAMICS USING NEUTRON SCATTERING

Abstract:
Diffraction stress measurement using x-rays has been well-established for many years. In about 1980 the method was extended to neutrons. The primary advantage is the lower absorption, and thus greater penetrability, of neutrons in engineering materials. In general, there is a three order of magnitude difference, i.e., millimeters (neutrons) versus microns (x-rays). This enables subsurface measurement of stress and stress gradients in relatively small gage volumes (typically 1 - 10 mm ³) as well as the measurement of residual microstresses in sizable sampling volumes. The use of neutrons for stress measurement will be discussed, followed by examples. These will include thermal residual microstresses in cemented carbide composites (and their change with temperature, mechanical conditioning, and microstructure), ceramic matrix composites and metal/ceramic bonds. In addition, other possible applications will be suggested, such as validation of thermal stress models, intergranular microstresses and the determination of stress distributions in pressed powders.
(Ref. SXVIII-023a-97)

Source: NDE of Ceramics '97 May 4-7, Symposium on Nondestructive Evaluation of Ceramics at the American Ceramic Society 99th Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, Ohio.
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