The Effects of in-Situ Processing Methods on the Microstructure and Fracture Toughness of V-V3Si Composites

Abstract

AbstractThe present paper describes ductile-phase toughening in V-V3Si in-situ composites that were produced by conventional arc melting (AM), cold-crucible induction melting (IM), and coldcrucible directional solidification (DS). Notched three-point bending tests were performed to determine the effects of synthesis method on the room temperature fracture toughness of eutectic compositions, which contain nearly equal volume fractions of V3Si and the V(Si) solid solution phase. Fracture toughness values ranged from 10 MPa√m for the AM eutectic to over 20 MPa√m for the IM and DS eutectic alloys. SEM fractography, fracture surface profiling, and chemical analyses were performed to correlate the toughness values with the microstructures and interstitial concentrations produced by the three synthesis methods.