CORROSION-FATIGUE OF SIC WHISKER OR SIC PARTICULATE-REINFORCED 6061 ALUMINUM-ALLOY

Fatigue strengths of SiC whisker or SiC particulate reinforced 6061-T6 aluminum matrix composite (SiCw/Al or SiCp/Al), fabricated by a high pressure infiltration method, were obtained in laboratory air, ion exc hanged water and a 3 pct NaCl aqueous solution. A comparison was made with the properties of the matrix aluminum alloy 6061-T6. The SiCw/Al composite maintained a higher fatigue resistance than the SiCp/Al comp osite or the monolithic 6061 Al, even in a 3 pct NaCl solution. Good c orrelation was observed between a deterioration in the fatigue strengt h and the value of the corrosive potential and current, when changing the environment from laboratory air or ion-exchanged water to a 3 pct NaCl aqueous solution.