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DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED CARBON MAGNESIUM METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES BY APPLYING THE SEMI LIQUID CONSOLIDATION TECHNIQ

Objective

Assess the feasibility of a cartbon fibre Mg ma trix composite combining high longitudinal and good transverse properties together with a high dimensional stability, using a cost effective fabrication route, i.e. cheaper material than 'prepreg' in the form of unidirectional tows or woven tapes of coated-carbon fibres together with thin sheets of Mg alloy and consolidation in the semi-liquid state. The research programme involves: optimization of the composite processing coating of fibres and its influence on their mechanical properties microstructural and analytical examinations composite manufacture testing of the composites
A processing route has been developed for carbon reinforced magnesium matrix composites. The research programme involves the following:
optimisation of the composite processing by liquid hot pressing;
coating of fibres and its influence on mechanical properties;
microstructural studies and microanalytical studies;
measurement of mechanical properties;
manufacturing and testing of composite sheets.

It has been demonstrated that liquid hot pressing (with moderate pressures of about 15MPa) is a viable and relatively simple process for fabricating carbon reinforced magnesium composites. Rupture strengths of 1400MPa have been obtained in tensile tests on unidirectional composites constituted of AZ61 matrix and M40J carbon fibres (volume fraction: 40%). Young's moduli close to the rule of mixture value has been measured.

Microstructural and microanalytical investigations have revealed the following:
a satisfactory infiltration provided the fibres are not too closely packed;
no significant interface reaction zone except a slight aluminium enrichment near the fibres;
the presence of a thin magnesium oxide layer at the fibre/matrix interface.

A tool has been designed and fabricated in order to manufacture 300 mm x 300 mm x 1.5 mm sheets in industrial conditions.
THE RESEARCH PROGRAMME ENVISAGES THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS:

- COATING OF FIBRES AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THEIR MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

- OPTIMISATION OF THE COMPOSITE PROCESSING

- COMPOSITE MANUFACTURE

- TESTING OF THE COMPOSITES

THE PROPOSED FABRICATION ROUTE (PRESSING IN THE SEMI-LIQUID STATE) ALLOWS TO START FROM AVAILABLE AND RELATIVELY LOW COST RAW MATERIALS, IE THIN SELECTS OF MG ALLOYS AND UNIDIRECTIONAL TOWS OR WOVEN TAPES OF C FIBRES.

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Call for proposal

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Coordinator

Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales (ONERA)
EU contribution
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Address
29 avenue de la Division Leclerc
92322 Châtillon
France

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Participants (2)