Influence of Crack Healing on Mechanical Properties of SiC Fabric / SiC- Al2O3 Matrix Laminates

Abstract

SiC fabric including SiC (60 vol%)-Al2O3 (40 vol%) mixed powders and SiC (60 vol%)-Al2O3 (40 vol%) sheet of 60 μm thick were alternatively laminated and hot-pressed to 79 - 83 % of theoretical density under a pressure of 39 MPa in an Ar atmosphere at 1600 °C. Four cracks were formed on the polished laminates with 30 ± 3 and 43 ± 2 vol% SiC fabric along the center line perpendicular to the direction of length by Vickers indentor at the load of 98 N and healed in air at 1100 °C for 24 h. The strength (253 MPa) of the as-hot-pressed laminate without SiC fabric decreased to 119 MPa after the introduction of the cracks but was recovered to 336 MPa after the healing. The crack size decreased because of the oxidation of SiC particles during the healing. However, the laminates with SiC fabric had a high damage tolerance and gave no change in the strength (~100 MPa) after the introduction of the cracks. The SiC fabric prevented the propagation of the cracks. After the healing, the porosity of the laminates decreased owing to the volume increase during the oxidation of SiC particles and SiC fabric. The strength of the healed laminates was comparable to that of as-hot-pressed laminates.