Fatigue and fracture mechanisms have been studied in a steel-based metal matrix composite (MMC), comprising a 316L austenitic matrix reinforced with 25 wt% particulate titanium diboride (TiB2). The fracture toughness was determined in the as-HIPped condition as being slightly below 30 MPa√m. Fatigue crack growth rates have been determined, and corrected for the effects of crack closure. The fra...

Scratching experiments, using diamond styli and single point diamond tools, were performed to simulate Single Point Diamond Turning (SPDT). The results of these experiments were used to determine if a ductile response is possible, and then to determine the critical depth of cut or penetration depth for the ductile to brittle transition (DBT). The depths of the scratches produced at different lo...