Title: High temperature mechanical properties of SIC whisker reinforced Al₂O₃ composites

Authors: A.R. DeArellano-Lopez, A. Dominguez-Rodriguez, K.C. Goretta, J.L. Routbort

Addresses: Dpt. Materia Condensada, Universidad de Sevilla, Box 1065, E 41080 Sevilla, Spain. ' Dpt. Materia Condensada, Universidad de Sevilla, Box 1065, E 41080 Sevilla, Spain. ' Material and Components Technology Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA. ' Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA

Abstract: High-temperature constant load and constant strain rate compressive tests have been performed on Al₂O₃ reinforced with different concentrations of SIC whiskers. The samples were obtained from three sources, but contained whiskers from the same source. The temperature range was from 1300 to 1500°C and experiments were conducted in air and argon. Strain rates varied from 3x10⁻⁸ to 5x10⁻⁵ s⁻¹ with stresses between 3 and 500 MPa. Stress exponents were found to vary between 1 and 5 and depended on microstructure, whisker concentration and stress, indicating a change in the mechanism controlling plastic deformation. Change from diffusional creep to a damage accumulation mechanism was supported by TEM observations on samples as-received and deformed both in the n=l regime and in the n=5 regime. Degradation of Sic whiskers occurred when testing in air.

Keywords: creep; silicon carbide whiskers; alumina; composites; constant load; constant strain; compressive tests; microstructure; high-temperature deformation; stress; plastic deformation; damage accumulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.1993.036553

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 1993 Vol.8 No.2/3/4, pp.416 - 423

Published online: 04 Nov 2010 *

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