THE REAL STRUCTURE OF THE INTERLAYER BETWEEN FIBER AND MATRIX AND ITSINFLUENCE ON THE PROPERTIES OF CERAMIC COMPOSITES

The mechanical functions of the fibre/matrix interlayer as well as its quantitative parameter dependencies and their influence on the proper ties of the composite system are discussed, with the theoretical model being considered under realistic conditions such as, e.g., residual s tresses, transverse contraction, and particulars of the interface real structure. Corresponding to that a number of interface structure phen omena of some advanced composite materials, revealed by HVEM and HREM are discussed with respect to their relevance to the control of compos ite properties, including complex interlayer systems, which are produc ed by fibre coating as well as by chemical solid state transport and e xchange reactions. The effects of texturing, hooking-together, binding , internal microcracking, and sublayer formation are demonstrated, and in some cases correlated with the mechanical behaviour of the materia ls.