Correlation Between Interfacial Structure and Toughness in SiC-Al Bilayers

Reinforcement surface modification is often used to improve the mechanical properties of particle-reinforced metal matrix composites, however, the extent to which such modifications affect the interfacial properties is yet to be revealed. In this study, we fabricated SiC-Al composite bilayers where the SiC underwent different surface treatments before Al deposition. Four-point bending tests showed that the samples made from acid-pickled and thermally oxidized SiC possessed substantially higher interfacial toughness than their untreated counterpart, a presumption inferred from mechanical tests on bulk SiCp-Al composites but never justified quantitatively. These findings were rationalized by the different interfacial constituents and structure in these samples.