Abstract
In the paper a study of fracture mechanism of a Cu-Al₂O₃ system by an "in situ tensile test in SEM" is presented. It is shown that during tensile strain the first cracks appear after decohesion of matrix-particle interface. The following stress increase causes formation of microcracks in the clusters of Al₂O₃ particles as well as cracking of large Al₂O₃ particles. Afterwards, a ductile transcrystalline fracture appears due to the cracks coalescence in the direction perpendicular to the tensile stress. We suggest a model of fracture mechanisms in the investigated system.

Key words
composite materials, Cu-Al₂O₃ system, fracture mechanism, matrix-particle interface

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