Abstract
In this work, strength of ceramic fibers and monofilament composites were evaluated on the basis of Weibull's theory. The fibers used were β-SiC and γ-Al2O3 monofilament composites was fabricated by coating Al on the fiber surface by the use of vacuum evaporation method. Average tensile strength of ceramic fibers showed the tendency to linearly decrease with increasing gauge length. Also, Weibull moduli of ceramic fibers were decreased with increasing gauge length, Weibull modulus of β-SiC was 3.5 for 6-50mm, 2.8 for 100-200mm. Weibull modulus of γ-Al2O3 was 6.5 for 20-50mm, 6 for 100mm. Fibers in monofilament retained their original as-produced strength to exposure temperature of 400℃. However, tensile strength of both monofilament composites approved to remarkably degrade due to interfacial reaction-induced flaws on the fiber surface after thermal exposure of 600℃. In this case, Weibull modulus of monofilament composites was 2.7 for β-SiC and 5.2 for γ-Al2O3 respectively.
