Tag: metals

Why ceramic bolts don’t have yield strength

Q: I was looking at your site and noticed that the ceramics don’t have a yield strength. What does that mean?
A:  Metals and plastic have yield strengths because they start to stretch before breaking… the point where they start stretching is the “yield point” and the stress at that point is termed the “yield strength”.
Ceramics on the other hand are very, very stiff.  They stretch very little and will break catastrophically.  Therefore, since there is no reasonable amount of stretch in the material, they are not given yield strengths.

Are ceramic fasteners fragile

Q: Are ceramics fragile? Do I have to worry about them breaking compared to metals?

A:   Compared to metals ceramic fasteners are indeed fragile. Unlike a metal, there is very little yield before it fractures. Additionally ceramic fasteners and susceptible to thermal shock.