Fabrication of continuous-fiber-reinforced polycrystalline oxide composites via molten salt infiltration

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1994.tb05416.x· OSTI ID:7114725

Chou, Y S; Ramberg, C E; Hellman, J R ^[1]

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1. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering

A novel molten nitrate salt infiltration technique was developed for the fabrication of continuous-fiber-reinforced polycrystalline-alumina-matrix composites containing a high volume fraction (47%) of small-diameter fibers (DuPont PRD 166 alumina/zirconia; 20-[mu]m diameter). A single infiltration resulted in sufficient matrix yield to permit densification of the resulting composites to >93% of theoretical density with excellent microstructural uniformity. Hot pressed composites fabricated in this manner exhibited Young's modulus of 270 GPa, flexural strengths of 272 [+-] 20 MPa, and fracture toughness of 3.35 [+-] 0.37 MPa [center dot] m[sup 1/2]. Primary fracture origins were localized regions of interfiber porosity, which were attributed to incomplete fiber tow infiltration. Fractographic analysis revealed lack of fiber pullout, and emphasized the need for interfacial debonding agents (coatings) to achieve further toughening. Results have demonstrated the utility of molten-salt-matrix precursors for the fabrication of polycrystalline-matrix composites containing high volume fractions of continuous, small-diameter ceramic fibers.

• OSTI ID: 7114725
• Journal Information: Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (United States) Vol. 77:5; ISSN 0002-7820; ISSN JACTAW
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601* -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
360603 -- Materials-- Properties
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
DATA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FABRICATION
FIBERS
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
HEAT RESISTANT MATERIALS
IMPREGNATION
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES