Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
This study involved the determination of the effects of composition and microstructure on the fracture toughness and susceptibility to environmentally enhanced crack growth of several ceramic materials used in multilayer capacitors. Indentation-fracture procedures were used to measure KIC as well as to assess the possible effects of internal stresses on the fracture behavior of these materials and to correlate dielectric aging phenomena with strength. The environmentally enhanced crack growth behavior of these materials was determined by conducting dynamic fatigue tests in water.