PROCESSING OF LAMINATED HYBRID CERAMIC COMPOSITES

The thermoelastic response of ceramic composite laminates was studied in order to optimize their design and fabrication. Laminated ceramic c omposites were fabricated with induced thermal residual stresses resul ting from subsequent cooling from elevated processing temperatures. Sa mples were fabricated by tape casting laminae of different composition s and then bonding them together by hot pressing to form the finished laminate. These laminates were analyzed to better understand the proce ss occurring during hot pressing that produced bonded and consolidated composites. Calculated laminate properties were found to be comparabl e to measured values. Microprobe elemental analysis was used to determ ine the interlaminar and intralaminar reactions occurring during fabri cation. X-ray diffraction stress analysis was used to verify predicted residual stress calculations. Residual stresses and stress-driven rea ctions were found to be contributing factors in the resulting microstr uctural variations found within the composites. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Limited. AU rights reserved.