CVD SiC fiber-reinforced barium aluminosilicate glass—ceramic matrix composites

Unidirectional CVD SiC (SCS-6) monofilament reinforced BaOAl2O32SiO2(BAS) glass—ceramic matrix composites have been fabricated by a tape lay-up method followed by hot pressing. The glass matrix flows around fibers during hot pressing resulting in nearly fully dense (95–98%) composites. Strong and tough composites having first matrix cracking stress of 250–300 MPa and ultimate flexural strength as high as 900 MPa have been obtained. Composite fracture surfaces showed fiber pullout with no chemical reaction at the fiber/matrix interface. From fiber push out, the fiber/matrix interfacial debond strength and the sliding frictional stress were determined to be 5.9 ± 1.2 MPa and 4.8 ± 0.9 MPa, respectively. The fracture surface of an uncoated SiC (SCS-0)/BAS composite also showed fiber/matrix debonding, fiber pullout, and crack deflection around the fibers implying that the SiC fibers may need no surface coating for reinforcement of the BAS glass-ceramic. Applicability of micromechanical models in predicting the first matrix cracking stress and the ultimate strength of these composites has also been examined.