Ultrasonic Attenuation of Ceramic and Inorganic Materials Using the Through-Transmission Method

Ultrasonic attenuation coefficients of ceramic and inorganic materials were determined for the longitudinal and transverse wave modes. Sample materials included hard and soft ceramics, common ceramics, ceramic-matrix composites, mortars, silicate glasses, rocks, minerals and crystals. For ceramic attenuation measurements, a standardized method has existed, but this method based on a buffer-rod arrangement was found to be inconsistent, producing vastly different results. Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy was also found to be unworkable from its sample preparation requirements. Experimental reevaluation of the buffer-rod method showed its impracticality due to unpredictable reflectivity parameters, yielding mostly negative attenuation coefficients. In this work, attenuation tests relied on a through-transmission method, which incorporated a correction procedure for diffraction losses. Attenuation exhibited four types of frequency (f) dependence, i.e., linear, linear plus f(4) (called Mason-McSkimin relation), f(2) and f(3). The first two types were the most often observed. Elastic constants of tested materials were also tabulated, including additional samples too small for attenuation tests. Observed levels of attenuation coefficients will be useful for designing test methods for ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation and trends on ultrasonic attenuation are discussed in terms of available theories. However, many aspects of experimental findings remain unexplained and require future theoretical developments and detailed microstructural characterization. This study discovered a wide range of attenuation behaviors, indicating that the attenuation parameter can aid in characterizing the condition of intergranular boundaries in combination with imaging studies.

Automated summary

The ultrasonic attenuation coefficients of ceramic and inorganic materials were determined, and a standardized method for ceramic attenuation measurements was found to be inconsistent. The frequency dependence of attenuation exhibited four types, with linear and linear plus f(4) being the most often observed. The study identified a wide range of attenuation behaviors and discussed the potential applications for characterizing intergranular boundaries in combination with imaging studies.