초록 ▼

The flexural strength and/or fracture toughness of SiC whisker-reinforced composites utilizing mullite or alumina as the matrix material for the composite are increased by the addition of zirconia in a monoclinic or tetragonal phase to the matrix. The zirconia addition also provides for a lower hot-

The flexural strength and/or fracture toughness of SiC whisker-reinforced composites utilizing mullite or alumina as the matrix material for the composite are increased by the addition of zirconia in a monoclinic or tetragonal phase to the matrix. The zirconia addition also provides for a lower hot-pressing temperature and increases the flexural strength and/or fracture toughness of the SiC whisker-reinforced composites over SiC whisker-reinforced composites of the similar matrix materials reinforced with similar concentrations of SiC whiskers.

대표청구항 ▼

A SiC whisker-reinforced ceramic composite characterized by at least one of increased flexural strength and resistance to fracture, comprising a composite defined by a matrix of mullite or alumina with an adequate concentration of zirconia in a monoclinic phase or a tetragonal phase to provide an in

A SiC whisker-reinforced ceramic composite characterized by at least one of increased flexural strength and resistance to fracture, comprising a composite defined by a matrix of mullite or alumina with an adequate concentration of zirconia in a monoclinic phase or a tetragonal phase to provide an increase in at least one of flexural strength and fracture toughness of the SiC whisker-reinforced composite over SiC whisker-reinforced composites provided without the zirconia addition, and with about 5 to 30 vol. % SiC whiskers homogenously dispersed therein, said SiC whiskers having a monocrystalline structure and a size range of about 0.6 micrometer in diameter and a length of about 10 to 80 micrometers with said whiskers being characterized in the composite by causing crack deflection and crack bridging and by whisker pull-out from the matrix when the composite is subjected to crack-forming stresses.