Fracoglace: fracture and corrosion in glass-ceramics

• Grant number: 25/05199-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Agreement: ANR
• Principal Investigator: Edgar Dutra Zanotto
• Grantee: Edgar Dutra Zanotto
• Principal researcher abroad: CHOMAT Laure
• Institution abroad: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) , France
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Carlos
• Associated researchers: Rodrigo Bresciani Canto ; Vinicius Fiocco Sciuti

Abstract

Controlled crystallization of certain glasses leads to meso-structured materials denominated glass-ceramics (GCs), which consist of nano or microcrystals dispersed in a residual glass. GCs take advantage of desirable attributes from glasses and ceramics and have numerous applications, e.g., in architecture, medical implants, and cell phone displays. However, the susceptibility of GCs to stress corrosion cracking has been scarcely and poorly studied. This phenomenon is highly dependent on the relative humidity and temperature, and on material parameters, such as chemical composition and microstructure, which can severely restrict their use due to slow crack propagation and fracture under (apparently) harmless stresses. This project includes three principal axes: * Sample fabrication and nanostructural and rheological characterization: Techniques include AFM, Raman, SEM, etc. *Fracture behaviour: This work will establish the full stress corrosion curve in controlled environment from the lower fatigue limit to the critical stress. Statistical tools (stochastic modelling, fractal analysis) will aid in the analysing of fracture surfaces. *Simulations: experimental data will be supplemented by computer simulations at different scales (finite element and molecular dynamics), providing insights on the mechanically induced nanostructural changes. (AU)