TThis document specifies the conditions for determination of the flexural strength of ceramic matrix composite materials with continuous fibre reinforcement under three-point or four-point bending for temperatures up to 2 000 °C under vacuum or a gas atmosphere which is inert to the material under test.

NOTE 1The use of these environments is aimed at avoiding changes of the material affecting its flexural strength caused by chemical reaction with its environment during the test.

This European document applies to all ceramic matrix composites with a continuous fibre reinforcement, unidirectional (1D), bidirectional (2D), and tridirectional (xD, with 2 < x £ 3), loaded along one principal axis of reinforcement.

NOTE 2The method outlined in this document should not be used to obtain values of flexural strength for design purposes.