Methods and systems relating to enhancing material toughness
US10329194B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jun 25, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 1, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49826
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Highly mineralized natural materials often boast unusual combinations of stiffness, strength and toughness currently unmatched by today's engineering materials. Beneficially, according to the embodiments of the invention, these unusual combinations can be introduced into ceramics, glasses, and crystal materials, for example by the introduction of patterns of weaker interfaces with simple or intricate architectures, which channel propagating cracks into toughening configurations. Further, such deliberately-introduced weaker interfaces, such as exploiting three-dimensional arrays of laser-generated microcracks, can deflect and guide larger incoming cracks. Addition of interlocking interfaces and flexible materials provide further energy dissipation and toughening mechanism, by channeling cracks into interlocking configurations and ligament-like pullout mechanisms. Such biomimetic materials, based on carefully architectured interfaces, provide a new pathway to toughening hard and brittle materials.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.