About this Abstract | 
  
   
    | Meeting | 
    Materials Science & Technology 2020
       | 
  
   
    | Symposium 
       | 
    Light Metal and Composites Technology
       | 
  
   
    | Presentation Title | 
    Microstructure, Interfaces, and Mechanical Properties of Ceramic Matrix Composites | 
  
   
    | Author(s) | 
    Alex E. Moser, Ramasis  Goswami | 
  
   
    | On-Site Speaker (Planned) | 
    Alex E. Moser | 
  
   
    | Abstract Scope | 
    
Incorporation of B4C in metals and alloys is known to enhance the material specific strength and reduce density. A critical factor to improve the mechanical properties of these composites is the bonding strength of the metal/ceramic interface.  We investigate the microstructure and interfacial characteristics of B4C-Ni and SiC-B4C composites processed in the solid state at relatively high pressure and low temperature using several methods. Improved hardness and modulus were observed in sintered B4C-Ni powder and attributed to the formation of Ni4B3 at the Ni/B4C interface.  Fine probe EDS and HAADF revealed a Si rich intermixing layer at the SiC/B4C interface, which could enhance interfacial strength.  The density functional theory (DFT) calculations show SiC-B4C (without intermixing) decohesion energy is the smallest at the interface as compared to the bulk SiC and B4C, and structural failure would occur along the interface. |