Non-elastic behaviours of porous ceramic and ceramic-polymer composites obtained via the infiltration of porous alumina are presented. Four stages of deformation can be distinguished in these materials under an applied mechanical load. The first stage is deformation without microcracking. The second stage features stable non-localized microcracking and takes place prior to the stress maximum. The third stage consists of stable localized microcracking, and the fourth stage is an unstable (catastrophic) fracture. For ceramic-polymer composites, the results suggest that cracks are deflected and stopped due to stress relaxation in the polymer.

Keywords: Porous Ceramic and Ceramic-Polymer Composites, mechanical properties