TRANSMISSION ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY STUDY OF AL AL2O3 COMPOSITES FABRICATED BY REACTIVE METAL INFILTRATION/

The microstructure of Al/alpha-Al2O3 composites made by infiltrating m olten Al into dense mullite preforms has been characterized using tran smission electron microscopy, The growth of the Al/Al2O3 composites wa s found to proceed through three stages, Initially, Al infiltrates int o a dense mullite preform through grain boundary diffusion, and reacts with mullite at grain boundaries to form a partial reaction zone. The n, a complete reaction takes place in the reaction region between the partial reaction zone and the full reaction zone to convert the dense mullite preform to a composite of alpha-Al2O3 (matrix) and an Al-Si ph ase (thin channels). Finally, the reduced Si from the reaction diffuse s out of the Al/Al2O3 composite through the metal channels, whereas Al from the molten Al pool is continuously drawn to the reaction region until the mullite preform is consumed or the sample is removed from th e molten Al pool, Based on the observed microstructure, infiltration m echanisms have been discussed, and a growth model of the composites is proposed in which the process involves repeated nucleation of Al2O3 g rains acid grain growth.