FRACTURE RESISTANCE OF SiC FIBER (NICALON#8482;) /SiC REFRACTORY COMPOSITES FOR THE ALUMINUM MELTING FURNACES

摘要

The short SiC fiber (Nicalon™)/SiC refractory matrix composites were prepared and the mechanical properties of the composites were measured. In the range of 0.1 wt.% - 1 wt.% of fiber addition, the fracture resistances of the composites obviously increase with fiber addition than that of monolithic SiC. In the application point of view, the aluminum melting furnaces constructed using the SiC fibers/SiC refractory composites show much milder crack propagation by thermal shock, and they have longer lifetime than conventional refractory furnaces.