Production of flexible metal matrix composites reinforced with continuous Si-Ti-C-O fibers by atmospheric plasma spraying

Abstract

An investigation of the production of aluminum matrix composite sheet reinforced with continuous Si-Ti-C-O fibers was performed by a plasma spraying method. The unidirectionally reinforced Si-Ti-C-O fiber/Al prepreg sheet (300 by 3000 mm, 0.1 to 0.15 mm thick, with 40 vol. % Fiber) was fabricated by plasma spraying under atmospheric conditions. The depth of the oxidation layer formed on the surface of the metal matrix composite (MMC) prepreg sheet was found to be about 200 A, and this value is almost independent of the atmosphere during plasma spraying. The fibers homogeneously disperse and do not contact each other in the matrix of the MMC prepreg. No damage on the surface of the extracted fibers from the MMC prepreg sheet can be observed. The MMC prepreg sheet was used to produce MMC plate by hot pressing at 640 to 680 °C under 9.8 MPa. The flexural strengths in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the MMC plate pressed at 660 °C were 1.0 and 0.25 GPa, respectively.