Mechanical Properties of High Purity SiC Fiber-Reinforced CVI-SiC Matrix Composites

Abstract Mechanical properties of silicon carbide composites reinforced with highly crystalline fibers and fabricated by the chemical vapor infiltration method were evaluated. Materials used were SiC/SiC composites reinforced with unidirectional Hi-Nicalon Type-S fibers and unidirectional Tyranno SA fibers with various fiber/matrix interphase. Also, SiC/SiC composites reinforced with plain weave Tyranno SA fibers with carbon or multilayers of silicon carbide and carbon interphase were evaluated. In-plane tensile, transthickness tensile and interlaminar shear properties were evaluated by the in-plane tensile test, the transthickness tensile test, the diametral compression test and the compression test of double-notched specimens. The elastic modulus and proportional limit stress were improved by using high purity silicon carbide fibers. The in-plane tensile properties were insensitive to carbon interphase thickness for a range of thicknesses between 30 and 230 nm. It was found that the in-plane tensile strength of composites containing multilayers of silicon carbide and carbon coating of fibers and fiber bundles was superior to that of composites with carbon alone. Transthickness tensile strength and shear strength of high purity silicon carbide composites were successfully evaluated.