MEASUREMENTS ON FIBER DISTRIBUTION IN A FIBER-REINFORCED AL METAL-MATRIX COMPOSITE (MMC) (MATRIX INTERCEPT-LENGTH MEASUREMENTS)

The fibre distribution in an MMC is an important factor which determines the nucleation sites [1] during solidification, this in turn, affects the properties of MMC materials. In order to control effectively the fibre distribution in an MMC, it is necessary to know the degree of fibre clustering and to understand the factors affecting the uneven distribution of fibres within the alloy matrices. The present work describes details of fibre distributions within a metal-matrix composite using matrix intercept-length measurements on three different samples: squeeze-cast samples (the original sample used for re-melting and resolidification experiments); slowly-cooled samples (quenched after solidification at a cooling rate of 0.24 K/s); and rapidly-cooled samples (quenched directly from the liquid state). In addition, a computer-generated random circular distribution is considered. The results of measurement of the samples are presented and discussed.