Fabrication of Cement, Polymer, and Metal-Matrix Fibre Composites by Gravity-Assisted Liquid-Binder Infiltration : A Practical Approach

An experimental investigation into the fabrication of cement/polymer/metal fibre composites by gravity-assisted infiltration of the liquid binder is reported. A method was developed consisting of a flow test that was based on columns of woven fibres and an approach that made use of preformed arrays of short fibres to simulate the actual infiltration process. The infiltration characteristics were identified to depend upon the characteristics of the interstice and those of the binders and could be simplified to two key parameters controlling flow: an expression of the fibre interstice and the distance of infiltration. A common relationship was derived between the key parameters. It was concluded that the flow test could be used to assist in the fabrication. A test was also developed that employed a modified binder for the fabrication of fibre reinforced metals. It was concluded that this test was more suitable than others reported in the literature.