A quantitative metallographic study of fibre fracture during processing and creep of a short fibre reinforced aluminium alloy

In order to investigate the kinetics of fibre fracture occurring during cre ep in short fibre reinforced aluminium alloys produced by squeeze casting, a precise measurement of fibre lengths is necessary. A method is described which permits such fibres to be measured far more accurately than was previ ously possible. Using this method of measurement it is confirmed that fibre fracture occurs during creep. It is also shown that higher volume fraction s of fibres in the composite material are always associated with smaller fi bre lengths, this being due to fibres fracturing during the fibre preform m anufacturing process. It is further shown that fibres also break during the infiltration process.