Characterization of Nicalon®: Strength, Structure, and Fractography

Silicon carbide fibers (Nicalon®) have been characterized with regard to tensile strength and Young's modulus, microstructure, and fractography. Tensile strength as found to be gage-length dependent and the flaws controlling classical brittle failure have been characterized by extensive fractographic analysis which show there are at least three flaw populations. The microstructure can best be described as random, microcrystalline β-SiC.