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Interfacial Chemistry-Structure and Fracture of Ceramic Composites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2011

L. H. Schoenlein ,
R. H. Jones ,
C. H. Henager ,
C. H. Schilling  and
F. Gac
L. H. Schoenlein
Affiliation:
Pacific Northwest Laboratorya, Richland, WA 99352
R. H. Jones
Affiliation:
Pacific Northwest Laboratorya, Richland, WA 99352
C. H. Henager
Affiliation:
Pacific Northwest Laboratorya, Richland, WA 99352
C. H. Schilling
Affiliation:
Pacific Northwest Laboratorya, Richland, WA 99352
F. Gac
Affiliation:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545
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Abstract

The interfacial chemistry and phases of SiC-reinforced Si3N4 composites have been evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with associated x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) microanalysis, and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Hot-pressed Si3N4 (HPSN) composites reinforced with Nicalon™ SiC fibers or Tateho SiC wiskers and reaction-bonded Si3N4 (RBSN) composites reinforced with uncoated or coated VLS SiC whiskers have been evaluated. In the Nicalon™ fiber-reinforced HPSN, an interfacial phase composed of a layer of amorphous carbon and an adjacent layer of graphitic carbon was observed and is believed to assist fiber pullout during fracture of the composite. However, the fracture strength and toughness of these composites were considerably less than those of unreinforced HPSN. HPSN composites reinforced with Tateho SiC whiskers contained an interfacial phase believed to be similar to the intergranular phase found in the HPSN matrix. In RBSN composites fabricated with an Fe2O3 sintering aid, the VLS SiC whiskers were severely faceted by a reactive iron silicide phase despite C, BN, or SiO2 coatings on the whiskers. When no sintering aid was used, the uncoated whiskers were not degraded and appeared to be strongly bonded to the RBSN matrix. The composites reinforced with SiO2-coated whiskers possessed the highest fracture strength and toughness, and the composites reinforced with the BN-coated whiskers possessed the lowest fracture strength and toughness.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 120: Symposium G – High-Temperature/High-Performance Composites , 1988 , 313
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1988

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