Control of Void Formation During Forging of Advanced Fiber Reinforced Composite Materials

Abstract

Increased interest has emerged in recent years in the development of fiber reinforced superalloy composite materials and the fabrication processes to produce composite turbine vanes and blades for advanced gas turbine engines. The composite system examined consisted of a Mar-\1200 matrix containing 40% volume fraction of tugsten wires and was prepared by hoi isostatic pressing. Results on the flow behaviour of these materials, under conditions simulating isothermal forging, indicated that extensive damage occurs at an early stage of deformation due to void formation at the fiber/matrix interface. The objective of this paper is to discuss some of the parameters affecting void formation and damage in fiber reinforced composites and outline forging conditions where void formation can he reduced or even eliminated.