Abstract:

The Con Clad Process of forming unidirectionally-reinforced boron/ aluminium composite shapes is studied. B/A1 tape is made of drum-winding boron-carbide-coated boron filament （140 micron in diameter） and plasma-spraying aluminium powder. The pack of plasma-sprayed B/A1 tapes with mild steel sheet on both outer surfaces is bonded together by hot diffusion in air and consolidated into a steel-cladded unidirectional B/A1 plate. Experiments demonstrate that good quality of bonding can be achieved by hot pressing in air. Therefore, the steel-cladded B/A1 plate is bended along the lines parallel to the filaments in a forming die at room temperature and formed into a shape of desirable section configuration with bend radius equal to threefold B/A1 sheet thickness. After forming, the steel is etched away with 40% nitric acid. Provided the suitable thickness of the cladding steel is chosen, B/A1 sheet can be bended without cracking. This process is applicable to fabrication of B/A1 shapes with various sections, including angles, channels, zees and hats.