Evolución microestructural de composites SiC/aleaciones CuSi obtenidos a través de infiltración reactiva

Abstract

The microstructural evolution of composites of SiC/Cu-Si alloys obtained through process of reactive infiltration to 1400 °C was studied. Three zones were detected in the obtained composites: the reaction zone, the transition zone and the infiltrated zone. In the reaction zone and transition zone the resulting microstructure was composed of a metallic phase, graphite laminae and SiC particles. It was found that SiC decomposes into these areas because of the alloy Cu-Si, so the available Si forms a liquid solution that a room temperature consisted of a α solid solution and a γ phase (Cu 5 Si). The carbon resulting from the decomposition of SiC precipitated as graphite laminae. In addition, the SiC decomposition was decreasing as the initial amount of Si in the alloy increased.