Atomistic origin of brittle-to-ductile transition behavior of polycrystalline 3C-SiC in diamond cutting

L Zhao and WJ Hu and Q Zhang and JJ Zhang and JG Zhang and T Sun, CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL, 47, 23895-23904 (2021).

DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2021.05.098

The machinability of hard brittle polycrystalline ceramic has a strong correlation with internal microstructures and their accommodated deformation behavior. In the present work, we investigate the mechanisms governing the brittle-to-ductile transition behavior of polycrystalline 3C-SiC in diamond cutting by means of molecular dynamics simulations. Simulation results reveal the co-existence of dislocation slip and amorphizationdominated ductile deformation and cracking along grain boundaries-mediated brittle fracture, as well as the correlation of individual deformation modes with machining force variation and machined surface morphology. In addition, inter-granular fracture, grain boundary sliding and grain pull-up are also operating brittle deformation modes of polycrystalline 3C-SiC. The strong competition between above heterogeneous deformation modes determines the brittle-to-ductile transition behavior in grooving of polycrystalline 3C-SiC. Simulation results also demonstrate that grain size has a strong impact on the brittle-to-ductile transition and material deformation behavior of polycrystalline 3C-SiC under diamond cutting.

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