STRAIN REGULARITY IN REINFORCERS OF SHORT-FIBER/ WHISKER REINFORCED COMPOSITE AND ITS APPLICATION

Based on the study of strain distribution in short-fiber/whisker reinforced metal matrix composites, a deformation characteristic parameter λ is defined as the ratio of the root-mean-square strain of reinforcers to the macro-linear strain along the same direction. Quantitative relation between λ and microstructure parameters of the composite is obtained. As an example of applying and verifying λ, the stress-strain curve of ［AlBO］w/Al composite under tensile loading is predicted and favorably compared with experiments. By using λ, the stiffness modulus of the composite with arbitrary reinforcer orientation under any loading condition is predicted from the microstructure parameters of material.

Comparison of K_(IC) Values for SiC Whisker Reinforced Ceramic Composites Obtained by Using Various Methods

The fracture toughness (KIC) values determined by indentation microfracture method (IM ) for SiC whisker reinforced Al2O3 and ZrO2 based composites were calculated with different IM equations and compared with those obtained by singte edge notched beam (SENB) technique. Experimental results show that the KIC (IM) values calculated with different equations are quite different one from another. For composites without phase transformable components the KIC (IM) and KIC (SENB) values are practically on the same level, but for composites with phase transformable components (partially stabilized zirconia) the KIC (SENB) values are always higher than KIC (IM). This is because that the IM method can not reveal sensitively the toughening effect due to dynamic t-m transformation of ZrO2 as the SENB method does. The accuracy of the IM method depends on the Suitability of the IM equations and was evaluated for the materials used in this investigation. Two new IM equations are suggested with which the KIC (IM ) values can be obtained very close to KIC (SENB) values for composites having phase transformable components.

High Temperature Creep behaviour of a Si_3N_4 Whisker Reinforced Al-Fe-V-Si Composite

The creep behaviour of β-Si3N4 whisker reinforced Al-8.5Fe-1.3V-1.7Si composite has been investigated at the temperature 773 and 823 K. The results are characterized by high stress exponent and high apparent creep activation energy The creep data can be interpreted based on the incorporation of a threshold Stress and a load transfer coefficient into the power-law creep equation. A good correlation between the normalized creep rate and normalized effective stress is available which demonstrates that the creep behaviour of both the alloy and the composite is controlled by the matrix lattice self-diffusion in AI. EXamination on microstructure shows that edge dislocations exist at the interfaces between two adjacent whiskers and the intedeces emit edge dislocations in parallel paired-columns.

Microstructure,mechanical and wear properties of aluminum borate whisker reinforced aluminum matrix composites

The microstructural features and the consequent mechanical properties were characterized in aluminium borate whisker(ABOw)(5, 10 and 15 wt.%) reinforced commercially-pure aluminium composites fabricated by conventional powder metallurgy technique. The aluminium powder and the whisker were effectively blended by a semi-powder metallurgy method. The blended powder mixtures were cold compacted and sintered at 600 ℃. The sintered composites were characterized for microstructural features by optical microscopy(OM), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS), transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and X-ray diffraction(XRD) analysis. Porosity in the composites with variation in ABOw contents was determined. The effect of variation in content of ABOw on mechanical properties, viz. hardness, bending strength and compressive strength of the composites was evaluated. The dry sliding wear behaviour was evaluated at varying sliding distance at constant loads. Maximum flexural strength of 172 MPa and compressive strength of 324 MPa with improved hardness around HV 40.2 are obtained in composite with 10 wt.% ABOw. Further increase in ABOw content deteriorates the properties. A substantial increase in wear resistance is also observed with 10 wt.% ABOw. The excellent combination of mechanical properties of Al-10 wt.%ABOw composites is attributed to good interfacial bonds, less porosity and uniformity in the microstructure.

Sintering behavior of alumina whisker reinforced zirconia ceramics in hot oscillatory pressing

Alumina whisker reinforced zirconia ceramic composite was prepared by both hot oscillatory pressing(HOP)and conventional hot pressing(HP).The results show that compared with HP,HOP can significantly increase the final density and densification rate of the material.Analysis of densification kinetics reveals that the predominant densification mechanism transits from grain boundary sliding in the beginning to the diffusion in the later stage.The main effect of the oscillating pressure is to increase the densification rate in the process of grain boundary sliding.The current study suggests that HOP is a promising technique for densifying whisker reinforced ceramics.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of CaCO_3 Whisker-reinforced Cement

Composite Portland cement （PC） played an important role in various kinds of construction engineering owing to low hydration heat,low-cost,and application of solid industrial waste,but its brittleness and low strength limited its use in stress-bearing locations.The aim of this study is to improve the toughness and fracture resistance by incorporating CaCO3 whisker in cement matrix.Effect of different content of calcium carbonate whiskers on the mechanical properties of PC was investigated.The results showed that the flexural strength,impact strength and split tensile strength were increased by 39.7%,39.25% and 36.34% at maximum,respectively.Microstructure and elements of the whiskers in hardened cement were observed and analyzed by SEM/EDS.The mechanisms of the reinforcement of CaCO3 whisker on cement were also discussed,and the conclusion was that the improvement could be correlated to energy-dissipating processes owing to crack bridging,crack deflection,and whisker pull-out at the crack tips.

PREDICTION OF MECHANICAL PROPERTY OF WHISKER REINFORCED METAL MATRIX COMPOSITE: PART-II. VERIFICATION & APPLICATION

The present paper continues the discussion in Part I. Model and Formulation. Based on the theory proposed in Part I, the formulae predicting stiffness moduli of the composites in some typical cases of whisker orientations and loading conditions are derived and compared with theoretical representatives in literatures, experimental measurement and commonly used empirical formulae. It seems that (1) with whisker reinforcing and matrix hardening considered, the present prediction is in well agreement with the experimental measurement; (2) the present theory can predict accurate moduli with the proper pre calculated parameters; (3) the upper bound and lower bound of the present theory are just the predictions of equal strain theory and equal stress theory; (4) the present theory provides a physical explanation and theoretical base for the present commonly used empirical formulae. Compared with the microscopic mechanical theories, the present theory is competent for modulus prediction of practical engineering composite in accuracy and simplicity. [WT5”HZ]

PREDICTION OF MECHANICAL PROPERTY OF WHISKER REINFORCED METAL MATRIX COMPOSITE: PART-I. MODEL AND FORMULATION

Based on study of strain distribution in whisker reinforced metal matrix composites, an explicit precise stiffness tensor is derived. In the present theory, the effect of whisker orientation on the macro property of composites is considered, but the effect of random whisker position and the complicated strain field at whisker ends are averaged. The derived formula is able to predict the stiffness modulus of composites with arbitrary whisker orientation under any loading condition. Compared with the models of micro mechanics, the present theory is competent for modulus prediction of actual engineering composites. The verification and application of the present theory are given in a subsequent paper published in the same issue

The Influence of Yttrium Isopropoxide on the Mechanical Properties of SiC_w-reinforced AIN Ceramics

By using self-made metal-alkoxide yttrium isopropoxide as a sintering additive and disperser of whisker, the SiC whisker reinforced AIN ceramics was prepared. Its apparent density is 99.5 percent of the theoretical density; its flexural strength and fracture toughness are 681 MPa and 5.21 MPa·m1/2 respectively. Comparing the result with that by applying Y2O3 powder as a sintering additive, the flexural strength is increased by 25% and the fracture toughness is increased by 33% . The dispersity of whisker by increased yttrium isopropoxide is significantly better than that by Triton X-100.