High-temperature strengths of aluminium composite reinforced with continuous SiC fibre

Aluminium alloys were reinforced unidirectionally with 30, 35, 40 and 50 vol %SiC fibres by a liquid-pressing method. The SiC fibres for reinforcement were produced from a polycarbosilane and were yarns consisting of 500 continuous filaments of length 300 m and diameter 13m, having a tensile strength of 2000 MPa. High-temperature tensile and bending strengths of the composites were examined in air in the temperature range from room temperature to 500° C. The strengths were not influenced by temperature up to 400° C, but were decreased at 500° C. The decrease is considered to be caused by the reduction in transfer efficiency of the stress accompanying the decrease in adhesion between fibres and matrix.