In situ Liquid-Crystal-Polymer Fiber Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composite.

摘要

POLYMETS are a new class of hybrid materials composed of metals and polymers. The microstructure and mechanical properties of POLYMETS can be customized to meet a wide variety of design requirements. In this research, five to twenty volume percent of a thermotropic, wholly aromatic, liquid crystal polymer was mixed with -240/+325 mesh commercially pure aluminum powder and hot extruded at 300 C. The tensile properties of these POLYMETS were evaluated and the results compared to a pure aluminum control specimen. Optical and electron microscopy were used to examine the microstructures of the extruded rods and fracture surfaces of the tensile specimens. It was observed that polymer fibrils aligned in the extrusion direction.