Effect of reaction on the tensile behavior of infiltrated boron carbide–aluminum composites

Gas pressure assisted liquid metal infiltration was employed in the fabrication of various high volume fraction B4C–Al composites. Two reaction products were observed and identified in the composites, namely AlB2 and Al3BC. An increase in total volume fraction of these phases results in an increase in flow stress of the composites, concomitant to a decrease in ductility. The latter was shown to be related to an accelerated accumulation of damage, which we quantified by monitoring the stiffness of the composites as a function of strain. A simple relationship is used to quantitatively link internal damage accumulation and tensile ductility in the present composites.