Thermal expansion of metals reinforced with ceramic particles and microcellular foams

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A, Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02595462· OSTI ID:413300

Balch, D K ^[1]; Fitzgerald, T J ^[2]; Michaud, V J ^[3]; Mortensen, A; Shen, Y L; Suresh, S ^[4]

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1. Molten Metal Technology, Fall River, MA (United States)
2. Westinghouse Electric Corp., Orlando, FL (United States)
3. Ecole Centrale Paris, Chatenay-Malabry (France). Lab. de Mecanique des Sols, Structures et Materiaux
4. Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge, MA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering

The thermal expansion of three isotropic metal-matrix composites, reinforced with SiC particles or microcellular foam, is measured between 25 C and 325 C. All three composites show initial coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) values in agreement with the Turner model predictions, and near Schapery`s lower elastic bound for CTE. At higher temperatures, the CTE of foam-reinforced Al decreases, while that of the two particle-reinforced composites increases. These observations are interpreted as resulting from the presence of a very small fraction of microscopic voids within the infiltrated composites. This interpretation is confirmed with finite-element simulations of the influence of voids, cracks, and reinforcement convexity in two-dimensional (2-D) composites featuring an interconnected reinforcement of SiC surrounding isolated Al phase regions, thermally cycled from an elevated processing temperature and deforming in generalized plane strain.

• Sponsoring Organization: Office of Naval Research, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 413300
• Journal Information: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A, Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science, Journal Name: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A, Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 27; ISSN MMTAEB; ISSN 1073-5623
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CORRELATIONS
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MORPHOLOGY
POROSITY
SILICON CARBIDES
SIMULATION
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMAL EXPANSION
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS