Abstract
Interfaces between the primary β-SiC and the surrounding MoSi2 matrix in melt-synthesized in situ composites have been investigated, with emphasis on the chemistry and crystallographic relationships developed during solidification. Primary SiC growth occurs with {002} and {111} facets, both of which are found to template the subsequent nucleation and epitaxial growth of the MoSi2 matrix. Eight independent orientation relationships (ORs) were identified, involving the following combinations of planes:
The interfacial relationships were rationalized using coincident site lattice arguments as well as energetic simulations based on the Grey-Bohr algorithm. The latter analysis suggests that the multiplicity of relationships arises from local effects associated with the size and shape of the adsorbate layers preceding the formation of the MoSi2 nuclei. An amorphous carbon layer, 2- to 5-nm thick, was detected at all interfaces and some of the matrix grain boundaries. This interphase is believed to evolve by solid-state precipitation of C during postsolidification cooling and is, in principle, metastable. The C interphase enables easy debonding and thus may have important implications for the mechanical performance of materials involving SiC/MoSi2 constituents.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
F.D. Gac and J.J. Petrovic: J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 1985, vol. 68, pp. C200-C201.
K. Sadananda, C.R. Feng, and H. Jones: Mater. Sci. Eng., 1992, vol. A155, pp. 227–40.
M.J. Maloney and R.J. Hecht: Mater. Sci. Eng., 1992, vol. A155, pp. 19–32.
T.C. Lu, A.G. Evans, R.J. Hecht, and R. Mehrabian: Acta Metall. Mater., 1991, vol. 39, pp. 1853–62.
J.P.A. Löfvander, J.Y. Yang, C.G. Levi, and R. Mehrabian: in Advanced Metal Matrix Composites for Elevated Temperatures, M.N. Gungor, ed., ASM INTERNATIONAL, Metals Park, OH, 1991, pp. 1–10.
S. Maloy, A.H. Heuer, J. Lewandowski, and J.J. Petrovic: J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 1991, vol. 74, pp. 2704–06.
T.C. Lu, J. Yang, Z. Suo, A.G. Evans, R. Hecht, and R. Mehrabian: Acta Metall. Mater., 1991, vol. 39, pp. 1883–90.
E. Fitzer and W. Remmele: Proc. 5th Int. Conf. on Composite Materials, ICCM-V, W.C. Harrigan, Jr., J. Strife, and A.K. Dhinggra, eds., TMS-AIME, Warrendale, PA, 1985, pp. 515–30.
J. Besson, M. De Graef, J.P.A. Löfvander, and S.M. Spearing: J. Mater. Sci., 1992, vol. 27, pp. 4160–66.
H.E. Dève, C.H. Weber, and M.J. Maloney: Mater. Sci. Eng., 1992, vol. A153, pp. 668–75.
H. Nowotny, E. Parthé, R. Kieffer, and F. Benesousky: Monatsh. Chem., 1954, vol. 85, pp. 255–72.
D.J. Tilly, J.P.A. Löfvander, and C.G. Levi: in Intermetallic Matrix Composites II, Materials Research Society Symposia Proceedings, D.B. Miracle, J. Graves, and D.L. Anton, eds., Materials Research Society, Pittsburgh, PA, 1992, vol. 273, pp. 295–300.
R.M. Aikin, Jr.: Scripta Metall., 1992, vol. 26, pp. 1025–30.
Pearson’s Handbook of Crystallographic Data for Intermetallic Phases, P. Villars and L.D. Calvert, eds., ASM, Metals Park, OH, 1985.
D.J. Tilly, J.P.A. Löfvander, and C.G. Levi: Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 1997, vol. 28A, pp. 1889–1900.
Crystal Defects and Crystalline Interfaces, W. Bollmann, ed., Springer-Verlag, New York, NY, 1970, p. 143.
F. Grey and J. Bohr: Europhys. Lett., 1992, vol. 18, pp. 717–22.
F. Grey and J. Bohr: Appl. Surf. Sci., 1993, vols. 65–66, pp. 35–40.
P. Hartman and W.G. Perdok: Acta Cryst., 1955, vol. 8, pp. 521–25.
C. Vahlas, P.Y. Chevalier, and E. Blanquet: CALPHAD, 1989, vol. 12, pp. 273–92.
A.G. Evans: J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 1990, vol. 73, pp. 187–206.
F. Heredia, J. McNulty, F.W. Zok, and A.G. Evans: J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 1995, vol. 78, pp. 2097–2100.
A.G. Evans, F.W. Zok, R.M. McMeeking, and Z.Z. Du: J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 1996, vol. 79, pp. 2345–52.
N. Stoloff: Presentation at the ARPA-URI Program Review, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, May 1995.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tilly, D.J., Löfvander, J.P.A., DeGraef, M. et al. Interfaces in MoSi2-SiC In Situ composites synthesized by melt processing. Metall Mater Trans A 28, 1901–1911 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-997-0120-8
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-997-0120-8