Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
The reactions between coated SiC continuous fibres and TiAl, Ti3A1, or Ti3A1 + β matrices, have been investigated using optical metallography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), with chemical information obtained by energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS).
Similar sequences of phases were found in all the composites; carbides based on TiC and TixAIC (x=2,3) and titanium silicides based on Ti5Si3 forming in narrow bands outside of the complex carbides. The occurrence of individual phases can be related to published phase diagram information. However, the sequences in which the reaction products occur within the reaction zones cannot be fully rationalised from the present results.