Method and apparatus for carrying out a thermal shock test on ceramics

摘要

An apparatus for testing the therrnal shock fracture strength of ceramics. The apparatus includes supporting means (1, 6) for supporting a ceramic test piece (T) shaped as a rectangular parallelepiped at a first side surface thereof, force-detecting means (3, 13) for restraining a predetermined location of a second side surface of the ceramic test piece (T), the second side surface facing the first side surface, the force-detecting means (3, 13) and the supporting means (1, 6) restraining any deformation of the ceramic test piece (T) when the second side surface of the ceramic test piece (T) is heated, the force-detecting means (3, 13) being adapted to detect a force acting on the force-detecting means from the ceramic test piece (T), which tends to be deformed, but which deformation is restrained, means (4, 7, 17) for moving the supporting means (1, 6) to press the ceramic test piece (T) against the force-detecting means (3, 13), and a heat-emissive element (2), which is an electric heater, for covering and heating the second side surface to cause a thermal shock in the ceramic test piece (T).