In situ three point bending device for measurements of vibrational response of ceramics under stress by microRaman spectroscopy

An in-situ three point bending device was designed to study the vibrational response of ZrB2+SiC and LaCoO3 ceramics under loading. The developed device was calibrated using four different materials, Al, La0·8Sr0·2Ga0·8Mg0·2O3, La0·8Ca0·2CoO3, and B4C, with prior known properties and the measured stress-strain deformation curves were in excellent agreement with the results published in the literature. The piezo-spectroscopic coefficients of LO and TO SiC Raman bands have been established for ZrB2+10wt%SiC ceramic composite. Several eight hour constant 66 MPa load experiments were performed to estimate if a tensile load would have an effect on vibrational properties of LaCoO3 perovskite.