Nanoscale damage during fracture in silica glass

TL;DR

This study uses atomic force microscopy to investigate nanoscale damage mechanisms in silica glass during crack propagation under stress corrosion, revealing cavitation as the key process in damage spreading.

Contribution

It uncovers the nanoscale cavitation process responsible for damage growth in silica glass, providing insights into failure mechanisms at the atomic level.

Findings

Cavitation is the primary damage mechanism during crack growth.

Nanoscale damage spots coalesce to propagate cracks.

Implications for understanding failure in silica glass.

Abstract

We report here atomic force microscopy experiments designed to uncover the nature of failure mechanisms occuring within the process zone at the tip of a crack propagating into a silica glass specimen under stress corrosion. The crack propagates through the growth and coalescence of nanoscale damage spots. This cavitation process is shown to be the key mechanism responsible for damage spreading within the process zone. The possible origin of the nucleation of cavities, as well as the implications on the selection of both the cavity size at coalescence and the process zone extension are finally discussed.