7 results about "Intergranular fracture" patented technology

In certain materials and under certain conditions, the boundaries between the grains are the weakest regions in the material. An intergranular fracture is a type of fracture in which the crack propagates along the grain boundaries of the material, usually when these grain boundaries are weakened. Intergranular fracture is to be distinguished from the more commonly seen transgranular fracture, where the crack grows through the material grains rather than at the grain boundaries. Though less frequently observed, intergranular cracking is likely to occur if there is a hostile environmental influence and is favored by larger grain sizes and higher stresses. Intergranular cracking is possible at a wide range of temperatures. While transgranular cracking is favored by strain localization (which in turn is encouraged by smaller grain sizes), intergranular fracture is promoted by strain homogenization resulting from coarse grains.