Nondestructive evaluation of damage in alpha2-Ti/SiC composites by X-ray computed tomography

Microstructural damage produced by elevated-temperature tensile deformation and thermal cycling in alpha2 titanium aluminide (Ti3Al)-matrix/SiC-fiber composite specimens is documented by X-ray computed tomography (CT). CT is the reconstruction by computer of an interior section of an object. In X-ray CT, a highly collimated X-ray beam passes through a sample and the information in the transmitted beam is then used to reconstruct the image of the interior plane. High-resolution cross-sectional and longitudinal CT images of composite specimens were obtained with the ARACOR Tomoscope Breadboard system. Ply delaminations, matrix microcracking, and details of tensile fracture were imaged. The general utility of X-ray CT to nondestructively monitor damage in metal-matrix composites is discussed.