HIGH-TEMPERATURE PERFORMANCE AND RETAINED STRENGTH OF AN OXIDE-OXIDE CONTINUOUS FIBRE CERAMIC COMPOSITE

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Ceramic Engineering
• High-Temperature Materials

Background:

• Oxide fiber-reinforced/oxide matrix ceramic composites offer resistance to high-temperature degradation.
• Emerging applications demand materials with enhanced performance in aggressive environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the high-temperature performance of an alumina fiber-reinforced alumina matrix composite.
• To evaluate the impact of time and temperature on retained strength.
• To analyze the effects of residual stress and interphase degradation on mechanical performance.

Main Methods:

• Room-temperature tensile tests after exposure to 600-1200°C for 10 and 100 hours.
• Load-unload tensile tests to assess residual stress and interphase degradation.
• In-situ impulse resonance tests for elastic modulus, thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis, and fractography.

Main Results:

• Time- and temperature-dependent retained strength behavior was observed.
• Interphase material degradation significantly affects mechanical performance.
• Residual stress states influence the composite's strength retention.

Conclusions:

• The investigated composite exhibits variable strength retention at high temperatures.
• Interphase stability is critical for maintaining mechanical integrity in demanding applications.
• Understanding micro-mechanics is key to optimizing ceramic composite performance.