Mechanical behavior of SiCf/SiC composites with alternating PyC/SiC multilayer interphases

In order to tailor the fiber–matrix interface of continuous silicon carbide fiber reinforced silicon carbide (SiC_f/SiC) composites for improved fracture toughness, alternating pyrolytic carbon/silicon carbide (PyC/SiC) multilayer coatings were applied to the KD-I SiC fibers using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Three dimensional (3D) KD-I SiC_f/SiC composites reinforced by these coated fibers were fabricated using a precursor infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) process. The interfacial characteristics were determined by the fiber push-out test and microstructural examination using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of interface coatings on composite mechanical properties was evaluated by single-edge notched beam (SENB) test and three-point bending test. The results indicate that the PyC/SiC multilayer coatings led to an optimum interfacial bonding between fibers and matrix and greatly improved the fracture toughness of the composites.     

Process and mechanical properties of carbon/carbon–silicon carbide composite reinforced with carbon nanotubes grown in situ

A hierarchical C_f/C–SiC composite was fabricated via in situ growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on fiber cloths following polymer impregnation and pyrolysis process. The effects of CNTs grown in situ on mechanical properties of the composite, such as flexural strength, fracture toughness, crack propagation behavior and interfacial bonding strength, were evaluated. Fiber push-out test showed that the interfacial bonding strength between fiber and matrix was enhanced by CNTs grown in situ. The propagation of cracks into and in fiber bundles was impeded, which results in decreased crack density and a “pull-out of fiber bundle” failure mode. The flexural strength was increased while the fracture toughness was not improved significantly due to the decreased crack density and few interfacial debonding between fiber and matrix, although the local toughness can be improved by the pull-out of CNTs.     

Properties of carbon nano-tubes–Cf/SiC composite by precursor infiltration and pyrolysis process

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were introduced into the precursor infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide matrix (C_f/SiC) composite via the infiltration slurry. The weight fraction of CNTs in the composite was 0.765‰. The fiber–matrix interface coating was prepared through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process using methyltrichlorosilane (MTS). Effects of the CNTs on mechanical and thermal properties of the composite were evaluated by three-point bending test, single-edge notched beam (SENB) test, and laser flash method. Attributed to the introduction of the small quantity of CNTs, flexural strength and fracture toughness of the C_f/SiC composite both increased by 25%, and thermal conductivity at room temperature increased by 30%.     

Microstructure, mechanical properties and reaction mechanism of KD-1 SiCf/SiC composites fabricated by chemical vapor infiltration and vapor silicon infiltration

Three-dimensional (3D) KD-1 silicon carbide fiber reinforced silicon carbide matrix (KD-1 SiC_f/SiC) composites were fabricated by a combining chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) and vapor silicon infiltration (VSI) process. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the resulting KD-1 SiC_f/SiC composites were studied. The results show that the resulting SiC_f/SiC composites have high bulk density and low open porosity (<6%). The mechanical properties of the resulting SiC_f/SiC composites firstly increase and then decrease with decreasing the open porosity of the SiC_f/C composites. The KD-1 SiC fibers were not severely deformed and adhered to the matrix with a weak interface during the VSI process. As a result, the composites exhibit non-catastrophic failure behavior. Additionally, the diffusion mechanism for the VSI process was also investigated in our work.     

Fabrication of SiCf/SiC composites by chemical vapor infiltration and vapor silicon infiltration

Three-dimensional (3D) silicon carbide fiber reinforced silicon carbide matrix (SiC_f/SiC) composites, employing KD-1 SiC fibers (from National University of Defense Technology, China) as reinforcements, were fabricated by a combining chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) and vapor silicon infiltration (VSI) process. The microstructure and properties of the as prepared SiC_f/SiC composites were studied. The results show that the density and open porosity of the as prepared SiC_f/SiC composites are 2.1 g/cm³ and 7.7%, respectively. The SiC fibers are not severely damaged during the VSI process. And the SiC fibers adhere to the matrix with a weak interface, therefore the SiC_f/SiC composites exhibit non-catastrophic failure behavior with the flexural strength of 270 MPa, fracture toughness of 11.4 MPa·m^1/2 and shear strength of 25.7 MPa at ambient conditions. Moreover, the flexural strength decreases sharply at the temperature higher than 1200 °C. In addition, the thermal conductivity is 10.6 W/mk at room temperature.     

Interfacial control of uni-directional SiCf/SiC composites based on electrophoretic deposition and their mechanical properties

Interfacial control of uni-directional SiC_f/SiC composites were performed by EPD, and their mechanical properties at room temperature were evaluated. The effect of the thickness of carbon interphase on SiC fibers by EPD on mechanical properties of uni-directional SiC_f/SiC composites was also investigated. The average thickness of carbon coating on SiC fibers increased from 42 nm to 164 nm with an increase in the concentration of colloidal graphite suspension for EPD. Dense SiC_f/SiC composites were achieved and their fiber volume fraction was 47–51%. The SiC_f/SiC composites had a bending strength of 210–240 MPa. As the thickness of carbon coating was below 100 nm, the SiC_f/SiC composites (SC01 and SC02) fractured in almost brittle manner. In contrast, the SiC_f/SiC composites (SC03) showed a pseudo-ductile fracture behavior with a large number of fiber pullout as the thickness of carbon coating was above 100 nm. The fracture energy of SC03 was 3–4 times as high as those of SC01 and SC02 and the value was about 1.7 kJ/m². In consideration of the results of mechanical properties, the thickness of carbon coating on SiC fibers should be at least 100 nm to obtain high-performance SiC_f/SiC composites. The fabrication process based on EPD method is expected to be an effective way to control the interfaces of SiC_f/SiC composites and to obtain high-performance SiC_f/SiC composites.     

Improvement of SiCf/SiC density by slurry infiltration and tape stacking

SiC fiber-reinforced SiC–matrix ceramic composites (SiC_f/SiC) were fabricated by vacuum infiltration of a SiC slurry into Tyranno™-SA grade-3 fabrics coated with a 200 nm-thick pyrolytic carbon (PyC) layer followed by hot pressing using a transient eutectic-phase. The density of the composite was improved using a special infiltration apparatus with a pressure gradient and alternating tape insertion between fabrics. Their overall properties were compared with those of monolithic SiC and composite containing chopped fibers. Although the density of the composites decreased with increasing fiber fraction, SiC_f/SiC containing 50 vol.% fibers had a density of 3.13 g/cm³, which is the highest reported thus far. The composites containing continuous fibers had a maximum flexural strength of 607 MPa and a step increase in the stress–displacement behavior during the three-point bending test due to fiber reinforcement, which was not observed in the monolith.     

化学气相浸渗2D Cf/(SiC-C)复合材料的微观结构与强韧性

采用等温等压化学气相浸渗法(ICVI)制备了二维碳纤维增韧碳化硅碳二元基复合材料(2D C_f/(SiC-C)).利用扫描电镜(SEM)和背散射电子成像(BSE)研究了其基体的微观结构, 并与二维碳纤维增韧碳化硅陶瓷基复合材料(2D C_f/SiC)比较了室温力学性能和断口形貌.结果表明：2D C_f/(SiC-C)复合材料的基体是由SiC与热解碳(PyC)组成的多层结构, PyC基体层分布均匀而连续, 且与SiC基体层结合紧密.纤维束内部PyC基体层较厚的2D C_f/(SiC-C)复合材料具有较高的强韧性, 其拉伸强度、断裂应变、断裂韧性和断裂功分别比2D C_f/SiC复合材料的提高了3%、142%、22%和58%.SiC与PyC组成的多层基体使2D C_f/(SiC-C)复合材料的纤维在拔出过程中发生了两次集中拔出, 且第一次集中拔出的纤维对复合材料的强韧性起主要作用.     

纤维涂层法制备SiCf/Cu复合材料及其性能分析

为研究纤维涂层法制备SiCf/Cu复合材料的性能特点,通过磁控溅射法先后将Ti6Al4V界面改性层和基体Cu涂层涂覆到SiC纤维表面,并通过真空热压法将被涂覆的纤维制备成SiCf/Cu复合材料.对Ti6Al4V涂层、Cu涂层以及复合材料进行了微观分析,并测试了复合材料的拉伸强度.研究表明,复合材料的Cu基体由致密而细小的晶粒组成;Ti6Al4V提高了纤维/基体界面结合强度,复合材料轴向抗拉强度高达500 MPa,界面脱粘主要发生在纤维表面的碳涂层与纤维之间.     

Microstructures of a carbon-fiber-reinforced silicon-carbide composite produced by precursor pyrolysis and hot pressing

The microstructures of a 1D-C_f/SiC composite, prepared by polymeric precursor pyrolysis and hot pressing, with polycarbosilane (PCS) as precursor and AlN–Y₂O₃ as sintering additives, were investigated by using XRD, HRTEM, and SEM. During sintering, Y₂O₃ reacted with the pyrolysis products of the PCS and the oxides on the surfaces of the AlN and SiC grains, forming a liquid-phase which assisted in the densification. Owing to the formation of a carbon-rich fiber/matrix interphase with a certain number of SiC–AlN solid solution grains, a desirable level of fiber/matrix interfacial bonding could be obtained which facilitated the debonding and pull-out of the fibers. The composite therefore exhibited better mechanical properties and the average flexural strength and fracture toughness values were 691.6 MPa and 20.7 MPa m^1/2, respectively.     

SiC<Subscript>f</Subscript>/SiC composites reinforced by randomly oriented chopped fibers prepared by semi-solid mechanical stirring method and hot pressing

SiC short fibers, with an average diameter of 13 μm, length of 300–1,000 μm and chopped from SiC continuous fibers, were surface modified by the semi-solid mechanical stirring method to produce a discrete coating of aluminum particles. Then the starting mixtures, which consist of SiC short composite fibers, aluminum powder less than 50 μm and α-SiC powder of an average diameter of 0.6 μm, were mechanically mixed in ethanol for about 3 h, dried at 80 °C in air, and hot pressed under 30 MPa pressure at 1,650, 1,750 and 1,850 °C with 1 h holding time to prepare SiC_f/SiC composites. Volume fraction of SiC short fibers in the starting powder for SiC_f/SiC composites was about 25 vol.%. The composites were characterized in terms of bulk density, phase composition, and mechanical properties at room temperature. In addition, the distribution of SiC short fibers in the matrix and the cracking pattern in the composites were examined by optical microscope. Fracture surface of the composites were performed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effect of hot-pressing temperature on bulk density and mechanical properties was investigated. The results indicated that SiC short fibers were uniformly and randomly distributed in the matrix, bending strength and bulk density of the composites increased with increasing sintering temperature. The composite, hot-pressed at 1,850 °C, exhibited the maximum bulk density and bending strength at room temperature, about 3.01 g/cm³ and 366 MPa, respectively. SEM analyses showed that there were a few of fiber pullout on the fracture surface of samples sintered at 1,650 °C and 1,750 °C, which was mainly attributed to lower densities. But few of fiber pullout was observed on the fracture surface of sample sintered at 1,850 °C, the combined effects of high temperature and a long sintering time were considered as a source of too severe fiber degradation because of the large amount of oxygen in the fibers.     

Development of Al356/SiCp cast composites by injection of SiCp containing composite powders

One of the great challenges of producing cast metal matrix composites is the agglomeration tendency of the reinforcements. This would normally result in poor distribution of the particles, high porosity content, and low mechanical properties. In the present work, a new method for uniform distribution of very fine SiC particles with average size of less than 3 μm was employed. The key idea was to allow for gradual in situ release of properly wetted SiC particles in the liquid metal. For this purpose, SiC particles were injected into the melt in three different forms, i.e., untreated SiC_p, milled particulate Al–SiC_p composite powder, and milled particulate Al–SiC_p–Mg composite powder. The resultant composite slurries were then cast from either fully liquid (stir casting) or semisolid (compocasting) state. Consequently, the effects of the casting method and the type of the injected powder on the microstructural characteristics as well as the mechanical properties of the cast composites were investigated. The results showed that the distribution of SiC particles in the matrix and the porosity content of the composites were greatly improved by injecting milled composite powders instead of untreated-SiC particles into the melt. Casting from semisolid state instead of fully liquid state had similar effects. The average size of SiC particles incorporated into the matrix was also significantly reduced from about 8 to 3 μm by injecting milled composite powders. The ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation of Al356/5 vol.%SiC_p composite manufactured by compocasting of the (Al–SiC_p–Mg)_cp injected melt were increased by 90%, 103% and 135%, respectively, compared to those of the composite manufactured by stir casting of the untreated-SiC_p injected melt.     

Fabrication of multi-walled carbon nanotube-reinforced carbon fiber/silicon carbide composites by polymer infiltration and pyrolysis process

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-reinforced carbon fiber/silicon carbide (C_f/SiC) composites were prepared using a polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) process. The MWNTs used in this study were modified using a chemical treatment. The MWNTs were found to be well dispersed in the matrix after ultrasonic dispersion, and the mechanical properties of the C_f/SiC composite were significantly improved by the addition of MWNTs. The addition of 1.5 wt.% of MWNTs to the C_f/SiC composite led to a 29.7% increase in the flexural strength, and a 27.9% increase in the fracture toughness.     

不同界面SiC/SiC复合材料的断裂行为研究

碳化硅纤维增强碳化硅复合材料(SiC/SiC)是极具前景的高温结构材料。通过先驱体浸渍裂解(PIP)工艺分别制备了PyC界面和CNTs界面SiC/SiC复合材料, 对两种SiC/SiC复合材料的整体力学性能以及界面剪切强度等进行了测试表征, 并对材料中裂纹的产生与扩展进行了原位观测。结果表明, 两种界面SiC/SiC复合材料弯曲强度相近, 但PyC界面SiC/SiC复合材料的断裂韧性约为CNTs界面SiC/SiC复合材料的两倍。在PyC界面SiC/SiC复合材料中, 裂纹沿纤维-基体界面扩展, PyC涂层能够偏转或阻止裂纹, 材料呈现伪塑性断裂特征; 而在CNTs界面SiC/SiC复合材料中, 裂纹在扩展路径上遇到界面并不偏转, 初始裂纹最终发展为主裂纹, 材料呈现脆性断裂模式。     

Mechanical properties and damping capacity of SiCp/TiNif/Al composite with different volume fraction of SiC particle

SiC_p/TiNi_f/Al composite with 20 Vol.% TiNi fibers were fabricated by pressure infiltration method. The effect of volume fraction of SiC particle on the mechanical properties and damping capacity of the composite were studied. Four different volume fractions of SiC particle in the composite were 0%, 5%, 20% and 35% respectively. The microstructure and damping capacity of the composites was studied by SEM and DMA respectively. As the gliding of dislocation in the Al matrix was hindered by SiC particle, the yield strength and elastic modulus of the composites increased, while the elongation decreased with the increase in volume fraction of SiC particle. Furthermore, the damping capacity of the composites at room temperature was decreased when the mount of strain was more than 1 × 10⁻⁴. In the heating process, the damping peak at the temperature of 135 °C was attributed to the reverse martensitic transformation from B19′ to B2 in the TiNi fibers.     

Effects of proton irradiation on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Amosic-3 silicon carbide minicomposites

One dimensional Amosic-3 silicon carbide fiber reinforced silicon carbide matrix composites (SiC_f/SiC minicomposites) prepared by chemical vapor infiltration were irradiated with 2.8 MeV proton ions. The ion fluences were 1.0 × 10¹⁷ and 1.5 × 10¹⁷ cm⁻² at room temperature and 300 °C, respectively. The microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated before and after proton irradiation. Raman spectra showed no evident change in Amosic-3 fibers regardless of irradiation temperature, which is confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy observation. Pyrolytic carbon interphase showed slightly expansion after 300 °C irradiation, however, no microstructure changes were observed in SiC matrix. Moreover, it can be deduced that no irradiation induced changes in mechanical properties were observed after present proton irradiation.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of SiC<Subscript>P</Subscript>/SiC and SiC<Subscript>W</Subscript>/SiC composites by CVI

37.2 vol.% SiC_P/SiC and 25.0 vol.% SiC_W/SiC composites were prepared by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) process through depositing SiC matrix in the porous particulate and whisker preforms, respectively. The particulate (or whisker) preforms has two types of pores; one is small pores of several micrometers at inter-particulates (or whiskers) and the other one is large pores of hundreds micrometers at inter-agglomerates. The microstructure and mechanical properties of 37.2 vol.% SiC_P/SiC and 25.0 vol.% SiC_W/SiC composites were studied. 37.2 vol.% SiC_P/SiC (or 25.0 vol.% SiC_W/SiC) consisted of the particulate (or whisker) reinforced SiC agglomerates, SiC matrix phase located inter-agglomerates and two types of pores located inter-particulates (or whiskers) and inter-agglomerates. The density, fracture toughness evaluated by SENB method, and flexural strength of 37.2 vol.% SiC_P/SiC and 25.0 vol.% SiC_W/SiC composites were 2.94 and 2.88 g/cm³, 6.18 and 8.34 MPa m^1/2, and 373 and 425 MPa, respectively. The main toughening mechanism was crack deflection and bridging.     

连续SiC纤维增强钛基复合材料横向高温变形机理研究

针对连续SiC纤维增强钛基复合材料(SiC_f/Ti)成形的技术难题,利用沿垂直纤维方向基体具有大变形的能力,可以采用超塑成形/扩散连接技术(SPF/DB)成形出复合材料空心构件。在不同工艺参数条件下,测试了SiC_f/Ti复合材料的横向高温变形规律,并分析了变形温度、应变速率、纤维含量等工艺参数的影响规律,对不同参数条件下拉伸试件的微观组织和断口形貌进行了对比,分析了复合材料的高温变形机制。     

Effects of reinforcement distribution on low and high temperature tensile properties of Al356/SiCp cast composites produced by a novel reinforcement dispersion technique

A major challenge for full utilization of the potentials of SiC_p reinforced metal matrix composites is the uniform dispersion of very fine SiC particles in the matrix alloys. In this study, a novel method for gradual in situ release of properly wetted SiC particles with average size of less than 3 μm in the liquid metal was employed which greatly overcame this challenge. SiC particles were injected into the melt in three different forms, i.e., untreated SiC_p, milled particulate Al-SiC_p composite powder, and milled particulate Al-SiC_p-Mg composite powder. The resultant composite slurries were then cast in either a fully liquid state (stir casting) or semisolid state (compocasting). Subsequently, the effects of the type of the injected powder and the casting method on the microstructural and mechanical characteristics of the cast composites at room temperature and 300 °C were investigated. The results demonstrated that distribution of SiC particles in the matrix were greatly improved by injecting milled composite powders instead of untreated SiC particles into the melt. Also casting the composite slurries in a semisolid state instead of fully liquid state slightly improved the distribution. The ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation at room temperature of Al356/5 vol.% SiC_p composite manufactured by compocasting of the (Al-SiC_p-Mg)_cp-injected melt were increased by 113%, 90% and 135%, respectively, compared to those of the composite manufactured by stir casting of the untreated-SiC_p injected melt. The improvements in these properties at 300 °C were about 100%, 103% and 129%, respectively. Almost all the composite samples retained more than 90% of their strengths at 300 °C, whereas the monolithic samples lost more than 25% of their strength at this temperature. The composites manufactured by compocasting of (Al-SiC_p-Mg)_cp-injected melts exhibited a typical ductile fracture surface with equiaxed dimples at both room temperature and 300 °C.     

Joining of SiC ceramic-based materials with ternary carbide Ti3SiC2

The joining of two pieces of SiC-based ceramic materials (SiC or C_f/SiC composite) was conducted using Ti₃SiC₂ as filler in vacuum in the joining temperatures range from 1200 °C to 1600 °C. The similar chemical reactions took place at the interface between Ti₃SiC₂ and SiC or C_f/SiC, and became more complete with joining temperature increases, and with the consequent increased joining strengths of the SiC and C_f/SiC joints. Based on the XRD and SEM analyses, it turns out that two reasons are most important for the high joining strengths of the SiC and C_f/SiC joints. One is the development of layered Ti₃SiC₂ ceramic, which has plasticity in nature and can contribute to thermal stress relaxation of the joints; the other is the chemical reactions between Ti₃SiC₂ and the base materials which result in good interface bonding.