The Effect of Fiber Coating on the Mechanical Behavior of Silicon Carbide Fiber-Reinforced Titanium Aluminide Matrix Composites. Ph.D. Thesis
Fiber coating is known to improve the interfacial properties of SiC fiber-reinforced titanium aluminide matrix composites. The effectiveness of several potential coating systems is investigated using criteria such as interfacial compatibility, thermal stability, thermal residual stress, interfacial bond strength, and transverse fracture characteristics. The Ag/Ta coating was shown to be the most promising to satisfy the requirements for a strong, tough, and damage-tolerant SiC fiber-reinforced titanium aluminide matrix composite. The Ag/Ta-coated SiC fiber-reinforced titanium aluminide matrix composites was then specifically selected as a model material. The mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural, creep, and fracture resistance under static and cyclic loading in both longitudinal and transverse directions were determined. The damage mechanisms were also characterized and compared with those for uncoated composites. The results indicate that the Ag/Ta coating significantly enhances the interfacial bond strength and improves the matrix morphology in the vicinity of interfaces, leading to much improved transverse tensile and flexural properties without degrading the longitudinal strength. The Ag/Ta coating also facilitates the load-transfer efficiency during the primary creep stage, and therefore reduces the transient strain and accordingly prolongs the creep rupture life. The effectiveness and stability of Ag/Ta coating is dependent on the time and temperature of thermal exposure. On the other hand, the stronger interfacial bond strength is also responsible for the worse fracture resistance behavior under both static and fatigue loading. This study validates the feasibility of applying a multilayer coating onto SiC fibers in titanium aluminide and titanium alloy matrix composites. The elimination of a reaction zone and the creation of a benign ductile beta-Ti layer have been proved to be vital in improving the mechanical behavior of the composites.
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., Los Angeles, CA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering
- OSTI ID:
- 236786
- Report Number(s):
- N-96-21556; NIPS-96-34947; TRN: 9621556
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: TH: Ph.D. Thesis; PBD: Jan 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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