2D Raman mapping and thermal residual stresses in SiC grains of ZrB2–SiC ceramic composites

Abstract Thermal residual stresses of ZrB 2 –17 vol% SiC, ZrB 2 –32 vol% SiC, and ZrB 2 –45 vol% SiC ceramics were estimated using the piezospectroscopy. High spatial resolution (~0.7 μm) 2D Raman mapping was used to determine the average peak position of SiC in all three ZrB 2 –SiC composites in addition to the peak position in pure SiC. A novel filtering technique was used to refine the relevant FLO SiC peak of interest, which included a combination of filtering procedures based on peak intensity, Full Width at Half Maximum, and its position. After data filtering , the thermal residual stresses in ZrB 2 –SiC composites were estimated using FLO average peak positions using piezospectroscopic coefficients available in the literature. The obtained results were also compared with theoretical calculations models developed in the literature.