Interface Evolution in Tungsten Wire Reinforced Stainless Steel Composites

摘要

There is potential for improving creep properties of high temperature steels by tungsten wire reinforcement. Fiber/matrix interfaces have a significant influence on the properties of metal matrix composites, especially when they are used for high temperature applications, for example due to differences in thermal expansion coefficients. The present study investigated interactions between tungsten wires in two cast stainless steel matrices. Intermetallic phases develop at the wire-matrix interface during solidification. When the composite is aged at high temperatures, these phases further develop as a function of temperature, time and matrix composition. A combination of scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and electron backscatter diffraction was used to identify the constituents present at the interface, their chemistry and interface growth kinetics.