Strength degradation of SiC fiber during manufacture of titanium matrix composites by plasma spraying and hot pressing

Titanium matrix composites (TMCs) reinforced with Sigma 1140 + SiC fiber have been manufactured by a combination of low pressure plasma spraying (LPPS spray/wind) and simultaneous fiber winding, followed by vacuum hot pressing (VHP). Fiber damage during TMC manufacture has been evaluated by measuring fiber tensile strength after fiber extraction from the TMCs at various processing stages, followed by fitting of these data to a Weibull distribution function. The LPPS spray/wind processing caused a decrease in mean fiber strength and Weibull modulus in comparison with as-received fibers. A number of fiber surface flaws, primarily in the outer C layer of the fiber, formed as a result of mechanical impact of poorly melted particles from the plasma spray. Coarse feedstock powders promoted an increase in the population of fiber surface flaws, leading to significant reduction in fiber strength. The VHP consolidation promoted further development of fiber surface flaws by fiber bending and stress localization because of nonuniform matrix shrinkage, resulting in further degradation in fiber strength. In the extreme case of fibers touching, the stress concentration on the fibers was sufficient to cause fiber cracking. Fractographic studies revealed that low strength fibers failed by surface flaw induced failure and contained a large fracture mirror zone. Compared with the more widely investigated foil-fiber-foil route to manufacture TMCs, LPPS/VHP resulted in less degradation in fiber strength for Sigma 1140 + fiber. Preliminary results for Textron SCS-6 fiber indicated a much greater tolerance to LPPS/VHP damage.