:: Advanced Composites Letters on-line ABSTRACTS ::

Volume 9, Issue 4, 2000
Mechanical Properties of Sigma 1140+ SiC Fibres Prior and After Composite Processing

C. Gonzalez and J. Llorca

Department of Materials Science, Polytechnic University of Madrid. E. T. S. de Ingenieros de Caminos, 28040 - Madrid, Spain.

(Received 4/00; accepted 7/00)

ABSTRACT

The effect of processing on the mechanical properties of Sigma 1140+ SiC fibres was studied through tensile tests carried out on pristine Sigma 1140+ SiC fibres and on fibres extracted from a Ti-6Al-4V-matrix composite. The elastic modulus and the tensile strength were computed after measuring carefully the fibre diameter. The characteristic fibre strength was reduced by 20% and the Weibull modulus by half during composite processing. The analysis of the fracture surfaces in the scanning electron microscope showed that the strength-limiting defects were located around the tungsten core in pristine fibres and predominantly at the surface in fibres extracted from the composite panels. These latter defects were nucleated by the mechanical stresses generated on the fibres during the panel consolidation.

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