Ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites (UHTCMCs) are a new class of which combine boride phases with carbon fibres to achieve structural and functional properties were originally designed for aerospace applications. For the first time, this work investigates optical response UHTCMCs in view their possible application as high solar absorbers Concentrating Solar Power systems. Carbon fi...

Composites were fabricated by infiltration of molten Al–13Si–9Mg into porous SiC derived from wood. The composite microstructure retains the heterogeneous orthorhombic symmetry of the initial wood material. As compared to the uninfiltrated SiC preform, the composite shows much improved transverse compressive strength and stiffness, resulting in reduced anisotropy. 2006 Acta Materialia Inc. Publ...

A new procedure is proposed to perform push-out tests in SiC/SiC composites. To avoid the interphase damage resulting from mechanical polishing, the sample is prepared with the help of a ion slicing process. Initiation of debonding is detected on the mechanical response. A finite fracture mechanics approach allows to use the force at debonding onset to estimate the interfacial fracture energy.

In order to clearly understand the details of ZrO₂ formation during ablation, high intensity continuous laser was chosen to irradiate ZrB₂/SiC. The results reveal that there are two different modes of ZrO₂ formation depending on whether liquid SiO₂ is present. When liquid SiO₂ is present, ZrO₂ generated by the oxidation of ZrB₂ is firstly dissolved into SiO₂. Then, ZrO₂ will precipitate again, ...

The influence of fiberlmatrix interactions on the mechanical behavior of ceramic matrix composites is examined on glass matrix composites and mainly on composites made by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) of a fiber preform by a SiC matrix. Then the relationships between interfaces and features of the stress-strain behavior are highlighted on microcomposite specimens using experimental data and...

An experimental method to follow the evolution of the precipitation phenomena in the metal-matrix composites using the thermoelectric power measurements is described. It is shown that one can follow the kinetics of the precipitation during aging. The influence of the reinforcement on the precipitation kinetics is studied in case of an aluminum 6061- SiC, composite (where SiC, represents SiC par...