Standardized thermo-mechanical test methods for CFCCS

Continuous-fibre ceramic matrix composites (CFCCs) are a newly-emerging and rapidly-evolving subset of ceramic materials finding numerous and immediate applications in industrial, aerospace, and energy conservation sectors. The addition of reinforcing fibres allows CFCCs to exhibit much greater resistance to catastrophic failure than their monolithic counterparts while retaining the high-temperature strengths, corrosion/erosion resistances, high stiffnesses, and low densities characteristic of ceramics. However, while test methods for monolithic ceramics are quickly being adopted, test methodologies for CFCCs are still evolving. The reason for this evolution is that even though many of the lessons learned in testing and implementing fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs) can be extended to CFCCs, the unique nature of CFCCs (a brittle matrix with a stiffness similar to or greater than the reinforcing brittle fibres) prevents the direct adoption of FRP test standards. The unique test requirements for CFCCs are discussed and ASTM efforts on standardized test methods (including tension, compression, shear, and high temperature) for CFCCs to date are summarized.