CREEP-BEHAVIOR AND MICROSTRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITE

Among the new materials developed for high-temperature applications, ceramic matrix composites (CMC, i.e. ceramic fibres within ceramic matrix) seem to be very promising materials for severe thermomechanical applications. The purpose of this letter is to report preliminary results concerning the long-term behaviour of CMC made from cloth woven in SiC fibres (Nicalon NLM 202, Nippon carbon) infiltrated by chemical vapour giving SiC layers. Observations by scanning electron microscopy show that for T = 1473 K the fibre and the interface between fibre and matrix play a quite adequate reinforcement role, and the stress transfer ratio seems to be sufficient.