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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
In this paper we demonstrate a liquid exchange process to introduce a ductile metal reinforcement phase in the amount of 10–30 vol. % into reaction-bonded silicon carbides (RBSCs). Immersion of RBSC in pure Al or Al-Si melts enables diffusional replacement of secondary phase silicon with metal. The Al and Al-Si exchanged composites show improvement in fracture toughness (single edge precracked beam technique) to 6–7 MPa·m1/2 as compared to 3–4 MPa·m1/2 in otherwise similar siliconized silicon carbide. Increased fracture strength (four point flexure) was also observed after the liquid exchange process.