FIBER-REINFORCED INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS BY PHYSICAL VAPOR-DEPOSITION

This paper describes work on SiC fibre-reinforced gamma-Tial and MoSi2 intermetallic matrix composites (IMCs). Electron beam evaporation and vapour mixing were used to matrix-coat SiC fibre with a thick layer o f intermetallic compound, and these coated fibres were successfully fa bricated into IMCs. Intermetallic compounds have attractive properties for high-temperature strucrual applications and have been the subject of much research effort in the last 10 years. Progress has been made in improving the ductility of these rather brittle materials, particul arly with the titanium aluminides Ti3Al and TiAl, by alloying and ther momechanical processing. However, it is unlikely that monolithic inter metallics will have the right combination of ambient temperature ducti lity and high-temperature strength to allow widespread commercial appl ication. Further progress depends on the development of engineered mat erials which exploit the combined potential of ceramics, intermetallic s and metals to give an attractive balance of properties.