Damages and cracks in ceramic/metal interfaces

When metal/ceramic junctions are achieved by solid state bonding process, damages and cracks are often observed near by the interface. This paper focuses on the mechanical origin of the embrittlement. The main causes are : - residual stresses due to the mismatch in the mechanical properties of the materials to be joined - friction of metal on the ceramic surface at the interface during bonding - decrease of the toughness of the ceramic close to the interface consecutively to the diffusion of the metallic specie into the ceramic