Shaping reinforcements for composites

An evaluation is made of the applications of a continuous process that produces boride and carbide crystals in whisker, platelet, and granule forms for use in metal-matrix composites; the process is applicable to the production of such reinforcements with the family of nitrides as well. A tentative identification of optimum reinforcement forms has been made for ceramic, metallic, and polymeric matrices: these are respectively whiskers and small-diameter platelets; small whiskers and thin platelets; and large-diameter fibers, whiskers, and large platelets. Attention is given to the forms of SiC obtainable by the process and the mechanical properties obtained for them to date.