Near-alpha titanium alloys are of interest for continuous fibre reinfo
rced titanium-based composites owing to their better creep resistance
than other titanium alloys. The main advantage of these matrices is th
at they can improve transverse properties of the composite at high tem
perature. However, cracking at the fibre/matrix interface in the as-co
nsolidated condition has been reported with some near-alpha matrices.
Two composites were compared in the present work: SCS-6/Ti-6-2-4-2 and
SCS-6/IMI 834. Very few defects were detected in the SCS-6/Ti-6-2-4-2
composite whereas an extensive cracking of interfibre spacings was ob
served in the SCS-6/IMI 834 composite manufactured in the same conditi
ons. Our investigations revealed that the zone is very similar in both
region cannot explain the brittle behaviour of the IMI 834 matrix, It
has been established that cracking of the SCS-6/IMI 834 composite res
ults from a combined effect of thermal residual stresses and matrix mi
crostructure.