Preparation, microstructure and deformation behavior of Zr-based metallic glass/porous SiC interpenetrating phase composites

New Zr-based metallic glass/porous SiC interpenetrating phase composites were prepared by water quenching after pressure infiltration. Microstructural investigations conducted by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction show that the voids of the porous SiC preform were filled with the melt which was quenched into an amorphous state during subsequent solidification. Both the metallic glass and the porous SiC exhibit a three-dimensional interconnected net structure. The fracture mode of the composites under quasi-static compression changes from a shear mode to an axial splitting mode with the increase of the SiC volume fraction from 51% to 82%. The significant difference was present in the fracture morphologies of the composites with various volume fractions of the SiC preform. The stresses concentrated in the phase ahead the interface inflections are proposed to be responsible for the transformation of the compressive fracture mode.