Physical chemistry and mechanical imaging of ceramic-fibre-reinforced ceramic- or metal-matrix composites

Raman (micro)spectrometry allows the study of the non-metallic phases of ceramic- or metal-matrix composites at the micrometer scale. The three examples that are given concern a mullite-matrix composite reinforced by the Nippon Carbon NLM-202(TM) SiC fibre, an alumina-matrix composite reinforced by a Saphikon(TM) monocrystalline alpha -Al2O3 fibre and a Textron SCS-6(TM) fibre-reinforced Ti6242 matrix composite. Physical and chemical evolution of the SCS-6 fibre within the matrix is discussed. A comparison is made between residual thermal stresses estimated from the thermal expansion coefficients of the fibres and matrices and the values obtained from Raman wavenumber shifts. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.