Comparison of the Simulation and Experimental Mechanical Properties of B4C-ZrB2/Al Interpenetrating Phase Composites (IPC)

Abstract

Interpenetrating phase composites (IPCs) are becoming an important class of materials as the result of the development of a number of new techniques for producing composites with interpenetrating microstructures. In this paper, the mechanical properties of a B4C-ZrB2/Al IPCs have been studied using the Solidwork simulation code applied the finite element method (FEM). The results have shown that the B4C-ZrB2ceramic matrix and Al network exhibit different mechanical behaviour. The ultimate stress is found near the interface of the composites. Simulated data shows ultimate tensile strengths of up to 453 MPa at a failure strain of up to 0.5%. The compression strength was up to 615 MPa with 0.41% compressive strain to failure. The composites show an excellent resistance to high cycle fatigue. Fatigue life for specimen was 5.1×104cycles for 210 MPa while R =-1.0, and 5.6×104cycles for 133 MPa while R=-0.05. Infiltrated Al addition was the leading reason for the fracture toughness improvement of the composites. The simulated results are consistent with the experimental results well.