Control of interfacial reactions during liquid phase processing of aluminum matrix composites reinforced with INCONEL 601 fibers

• Published in: Metallurgical and materials transactions. A, Physical metallurgy and materials science Vol. 29; no. 6; pp. 1727 - 1739
• Main Authors: BOLAND, F, COLIN, C, DELANNAY, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01.06.1998; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aluminum base alloys; Aluminum matrix composites; Applied sciences; Barrier layers; Casting; Decomposition reactions; Differential thermal analysis; Eutectic alloys; Exact sciences and technology; Fiber volume fraction; Fibers; Interface reactions; Liquid metals; Liquid phases; Metals. Metallurgy; Nickel base alloys; Powder metallurgy. Composite materials; Preforms; Process parameters; Production techniques; Silicon; Superalloys; Metal fiber; Scanning electron microscopy; Aluminium base alloys; Fibre reinforced metal; Inconel; Interface reaction; Experimental study; Composite material; Squeeze casting
• ISSN: 1073-5623; 1543-1940
• DOI: 10.1007/s11661-998-0096-z

A comprehensive investigation is made of the parameters affecting the extent of interface reactions during squeeze casting of composites consisting of a matrix of either pure Al or alloy AS13 reinforced with fibers of INCONEL 601. The process parameters are the preform thickness and temperature, the fiber volume fraction, the temperature and mass of the liquid metal, and the temperature of the die. Adjustment of these process parameters made possible the full control of reactions. It is found that reactions proceed mainly in the solid state after decomposition of the oxide barrier layer covering the fibers. A simple kinetic model is developed that enlightens the role of this barrier layer. No trace of reaction could be detected in composites processed using preoxidized preforms. Alloying Al with Si also induces a drastic reduction of reactivity. The high ductility of the composites attests to the processing quality. An original procedure is proposed for measuring the activation energy for initiation of reactions by differential thermal analysis.