Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Direct Observation of Thermal Decomposition produced by Fracture in Brittle Crystalline Solids

Abstract

WHEN a fast crack runs through a crystalline solid, the elastic strain energy which is released may be distributed within the lattice in several ways. The most essential criterion for crack growth is that the surface energy requirements of the new surfaces created shall be met. For high velocity cracks, some energy will be absorbed as kinetic energy because the sides of the crack move apart rapidly, and for those materials which are ductile at the fracture temperature some of the elastic energy will be utilized in plastic flow processes involving dislocation movements at the crack tip.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

BOWDEN, F., Fox, P. & SORIA-RUIZ, J. Direct Observation of Thermal Decomposition produced by Fracture in Brittle Crystalline Solids. Nature 220, 778–779 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/220778a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/220778a0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing