A Study of Low Density, High Strength High Modulus Filaments and Composites
Abstract
This program has been concerned with the fabrication and testing of three types of advanced composite materials: (1) Metals reinforced with continuous filaments (2) Metals reinforced with single crystal whiskers (3) Multilaminar composites consisting of alternate layers of metal and ceramic. In order to fabricate the filament composites, continuous boron, and batch boron carbide, and silicon carbide filaments were synthesized at GTC. Electrodeposited nickel was reinforced by both 4 v/o tungsten wire and 20-30 v/a boron filament in aligned configuration. Tensile testing of these composites yielded tensile strengths in all cases that exceeded theoretical values. calculated by adding the volume-weighted tensile strengths of the components. This effect was most pronounced with the boron filament. Sapphire whisker composites of powder metallurgically produced Al-6Si_matrix and electrodeposited nickel were fabricated and tested. In all cases the whiskers were more or less randomly aligned. Contents up to 16 weight percent whiskers in Al-6Si strengthened the matrix. Approximately 10 weight percent of whiskers in electrodeposited nickel did not strengthen this matrix, although heat treatments did improve the as formed strength. Work was carried out on the techniques for depositing columbium films and alumina films to form alumina-columbium multilaminar composites. However no composite specimens were fabricated.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- ADA400425
Entities
People
- J. A. Alexander
- J. C. Withers
- R. G. Shaver