Effect of Fiber Dispersion on Mechanical Strength of SiCf/SiC Composites

This paper investigates the impact of fiber dispersion on the internal structure and mechanical strength of SiCf/SiC composites manufactured using spread SiC fibers. The fiber volume ratio of the specimen to which spread SiC fiber was applied decreased by 9%p compared to the non-spread specimen, and the resin slurry impregnated between the fibers more smoothly, resulting in minimal matrix porosity. In order to compare the fiber dispersion of each specimen, a method was proposed to quantify and evaluate the separation distance between fibers in composite materials. The results showed that the distance between fibers in the spread specimen increased by 2.23 & mu;m compared to the non-spread specimen, with a significant 42.6% increase in the distance between fiber surfaces. Furthermore, the 3pt bending test demonstrated a 49.3% higher flexural strength in the spread specimen, accompanied by a more uniform deviation in test data. These findings highlight the significant influence of SiC fiber dispersion on achieving uniform densification of the SiCf/SiC matrix and increasing mechanical strength.