Microchemical characterisation of carbon–metal interface in Ti6Al4V–SiCf composites

The composite of Ti6Al4V alloy, reinforced by unidirectional SiC fibres coated with graphite, has been investigated through a new fabrication process, roll diffusion bonding (RDB), developed at the CSM laboratories. Microchemical characteristics of the interface between carbon (coating of SiC fibres) and metal (Ti6Al4V) have been investigated by means of XPS, multipoint AES and photoemission spectromicroscopy (Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA) microscopy beamline at the ELETTRA synchrotron light source). The results obtained revealed that the composition of the fibre–metal interface is similar to that of the composites produced by conventional method of hot isostatic pressing (HIP). In the matrix, near to the fibres, the anomalous shape of Al 2p signal indicated the presence of C–Al atom pairs which are responsible for the anelastic characteristics of the composite