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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Composite strengthening. Annual report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6085204

It has been demonstrated that a strong interfacial bond is required to produce the observed strengthening in discontinuous SiC/Al composites. Dislocation generation (which is the strengthening mechanism) is dependent upon a good bond existing between the SiC and the Al matrix. Although it has been shown that the stresses developed in the matrix as a result of the differences in the coefficients of thermal expansion between SiC and Al are greatly reduced by the motion and generation of dislocations, an elastic residual stress can still remain. An investigation was undertaken and it was determined that, in the discontinuous SiC/Al composites, a tensile-elastic-residual stress remains in the matrix. It has been observed that as the strength of the matrix increases, e.g., due to alloying or age hardening, the percentage increase in yield or ultimate tensile strength decreases for a given volume per cent SiC/al composite.

Research Organization:
Maryland Univ., College Park (USA). Engineering Materials Group
OSTI ID:
6085204
Report Number(s):
AD-A-162423/8/XAB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English