Ideal cleavage fracture of transition-metal suicides: A comparison analysis

A simple empirical model for the ideal cleavage energy, resulting from a rigid-body separation, is proposed in terms of four variables, viz., the elastic stiffness constant, the interplanar spacing, and two adjustable length parameters. The ratio of these parameters is assessed based on the available results of ab-initio slab-supercell calculations. Ideal cleavage energies and stress intensity factors of transition-metal suicides are estimated, and the available fracture toughness data are discussed.