MECHANICAL AND MICROSTRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF

Abstract. Mechanical and micro structural properties of high density PTFE/AIAV composites consisting of PTFE matrix, aluminum and tungsten particles were investigated. Three types of samples having different porosities and particle sizes of W with an identical weight ratio between PTFE, Al and W were fabricated by Cold Isostatic Pressing. The quasi-static and Hopkinson Bar compression tests were employed to investigate the mechanical properties of these materials. The results demonstrated that the porous PTFE/AIAV composite samples containing fine W particles have higher quasi-static and dynamic fracture stresses than higher density PTFE/AIAV samples containing coarse W particles. ESEM micrographs revealed that deformation occurred mainly in the PTFE matrix while metal particles remain undeformed. We observed nano-fibers of PTFE caused by high strain rate deformation