Interface characterization of duplex metal-coated SiC fiber-reinforced Ti-15-3 matrix composites

Abstract

The interfacial reaction behavior of duplex metal (Cu/Mo and Cu/W)-coated SiC (SCS-6) fiber-reinforced Ti-15-3 composites, before and after thermal exposure, has been studied. The effect of thermal exposure on the shear sliding resistance of these composites was also obtained using a thin-specimen push-out test. The results are compared to those of an original SiC (SCS-6) fiber-reinforced Ti-15-3 composite. The interfacial reaction behavior is strongly affected by the existence of a coating layer. Both the Cu/Mo and Cu/W coating layers prevent the growth of a reaction layer. However, the coatings could not effectively prevent diffusion of alloying elements; only the W layer exists after the thermal exposure. On the other hand, the interface shear sliding stress minimally depends on the duplex metal coating layers prior to the thermal exposure, and this sliding stress in both the SiC/Cu/Mo/Ti-15-3 and SiC/Cu/W/Ti-15-3 composites decreases slightly relative to that in the SiC/Ti-15-3 composite. After thermal exposure, the interface shear sliding stress increases for the SiC/Ti-15-3 composite. In distinction, the interface shear sliding stress significantly decreases after thermal exposure in both the SiC/Cu/Mo/Ti-15-3 and SiC/Cu/W/Ti-15-3 composites. Theses behaviors are attributed to the decrease of radial clamping stress, which originates from a volume expansion associated with the β → α phase transformation.