Patent ID: 6123452
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for testing the thermal shock fracture strength of ceramics by applying a thermal shock to a ceramic test piece shaped as a rectangular parallelepiped, the ceramic test piece having a first side surface and an opposed second side surface, comprising the steps of:supporting the ceramic test piece at the first side surface by two spaced-apart supporting bars having a predetermined span;restraining by force-detecting means a predetermined location of the second side surface, the predetermined location being between the two spaced-apart supporting bars, such that the force-detecting means and the two spaced-apart supporting bars restrain any deformation of the ceramic test piece due to heat when the ceramic test piece is heated;covering only the second side surface of the test piece by an electric heater to heat the test piece only from the second side surface to apply a thermal shock to the ceramic test piece; anddetecting a force exerted by the restrained ceramic test piece on the force-detecting means when the test piece tends to be deformed due to the heat from the electric heater, but which deformation is restrained.