Mechanical Properties of Interconnected Phase Alumina-Al Composites 24

Interconnected phase alumina-Al composites were fabricated by pressureless reactive metal infiltration of porous mullite ceramic preforms. Controlled porosity mullite ceramics were processed via the indirect fused deposition. Volume fraction, size and distribution of metals were varied in the composite to understand their effects on physical, thermal and mechanical properties. Mechanical testes were conducted under uniaxial compression and four-point bend loading. Fractographic analyses of these samples were performed to understand the mechanism of failure under different types of loading. The paper describes processing and characterization of structured alumina-Al composites.