Work

Achieving synergistic strength and toughness in Al/SiC composites: A controlled comparison of bioinspired laminated versus uniform architectures

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The performance comparison between uniformly dispersed and bioinspired architectures in metal matrix composites has long been limited by the absence of rigorously controlled experimental validation. To address this gap, this study employed a carbon fiber-assisted gelcasting method to fabricate crack-free, low-volume-fraction (31.2 vol.%) uniform SiC preforms. They were compared against laminated SiC preforms (∼30 vol.%) prepared via freeze casting, with both architectures densified by aluminum infiltration under identical conditions. The results demonstrate that the laminated structure achieves a remarkable strength–toughness synergy, with its flexural strength and fracture toughness enhanced by 7.3% and 18.2%, respectively, compared with the uniform structure. This improvement is attributed to a transition in the toughening mechanism from an intrinsic to an extrinsic mechanism dominated by crack bridging, highlighting that spatial configuration constitutes a critical performance-regulating dimension beyond traditional compositional design, and offering a new paradigm for the development of high-performance composites.

Source: Materials Science and Engineering A

DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2025.149450

Authors: Ming Yang, Zhenyu Wei, Ruifen Guo, Tong Che, Ping Shen

Institutions: Jilin University, Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials, Ministry of Education, Jilin University

Language: English

Topic: Aluminum Alloys Composites Properties

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,430

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China