Compression fatigue properties and damage mechanisms of a bioinspired nacre-like ceramic-polymer composite

Abstract

Abstract Fatigue resistance is invariably critical for structural materials, but is rarely considered in the development of new bioinspired materials. Here the fatigue behavior and damage mechanisms of a nacre-like ceramic (yttria-stabilized zirconia) - polymer (polymethyl methacrylate) composite, which resembles human tooth enamel in its stiffness and hardness, were investigated under cyclic compression to simulate potential service conditions. The composite has a brick-and-mortar structure which exhibits a staircase-like fracture behavior; it displays a transition in cracking mode from the fracture of the ceramic bricks to separation along the inter-brick polymer phase with increasing stress amplitude. The nacre-like structure functions to induce crack deflection, increase the roughness of the crack surfaces, and promote the mutual sliding between bricks during fracture; this results in high fatigue resistance, which enhances the potential of this composite for dental applications.