Study of Preforms of Quartzite for Production of Ceramic Matrix Composites

The ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) can be fabricated by the pressure infiltration technique. In this work it was studied porous preforms of quartzite that were infiltrated with aluminum liquid. For to produce the more resistant preforms of quartzite, it was additioned different quantities of bentonite (5 and 10%) and the preforms were firing at 1100°C and 1200°C. For the composites production, the melted aluminum was introduced into preforms under a pressure of 7 MPa. The characterizations of the composites were made by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and flexure strength. All the preforms studied presented sufficient strength for support the pressing during the process of squeeze casting. The results of X-ray diffraction of composites showed the presence of alumina, silicon and aluminum and fully interpenetration aluminum-siliconalumina composites were obtained by infiltration.