Texture and residual strain in two SiC/Ti-6-2-4-2 titanium composites

Residual strain and texture variations were measured in two titanium matrix composites reinforced with silicon carbide fibers (Ti/SiC) of similar comp osition but fabricated by different processing routes. Each composite compr ised a Ti-6242 alpha/beta matrix alloy containing vol 35 pet continuous SiC fibers. In one, the matrix was produced by a plasma sprayed (PS) route, an d in the other by a wire-drawn (WD) process. The PS and WD composites were reinforced with SCS-6 (SiC) and Trimarc (SiC) fibers, respectively. The tex ture in the titanium matrices differed significantly. The titanium matrix f or the PS material exhibited random texture pre and post fabrication of the composite. For the WD material, the starting texture of the monolithic tit anium matrix was approximate to 17 times random, but after consolidation in to composite form, it was approximate to 6 times random. No significant dif ferences were noted in the fiber-induced matrix residual strains between th e composites prepared by the two procedures. However, the Trimarc (WD) fibe rs recorded higher (approximate to 1.3 times) compressive strains than the SCS-6 (PS) fibers. Stresses and stress balance results are reported. Plane- specific elastic moduli, measured in load tests on the unreinforced matrice s, showed little difference.