Improvement of Young's modulus and tensile strength of polymer impregnation and pyrolysis processed SiC/SiC composite by improved continuity of matrix

Influences of the continuity of the matrix on Young's modulus and tensile strength of unidirectional SiC/SiC mini-composite prepared by the polymer impregnation and pyrolysis method were studied experimentally by observation of appearance of matrix and tensile test and analytically by a shear lag-Monte Carlo simulation. The continuity of the matrix was improved by the addition of particles such as ZrSiO₄, barium magnesium aluminosilicate, and Pyrex (borosilicate glass) into the matrix. The improved continuity of the matrix led to the increase in stress carrying capacity of the matrix and therefore to the increase in Young's modulus and tensile strength of the composite. Such a correlation between the continuity of the matrix and the property of the composite was verified numerically by the shear lag-Monte Carlo simulation.