Carbon fiber-reinforced SiC composites were prepared by precursor pyrolysis-hot pressing （PP-HP） and precursor impregnation-pyrolysis （PIP）, respectively. The effect of fabrication methods on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites was investigated. It was found that the composite prepared by PP-HP exhibits a brittle fracture behavior, which is mainly ascribed to a strongly bonded fiber/matrix interface and the degradation of the fibers caused by a higher processing temperature. On the contrary, the composite prepared by PIP shows a tough fracture behavior, which could be rationalized on the basis of a weakly bonded fiber/matrix interface as well as a higher strength retention of the fibers. As a result, in comparison with the composite prepared by PP-HP, the composite prepared by PIP achieves better mechanical properties with a flexural strength of 573.4 MPa and a fracture toughness of 17.2 MPa.m^1/2.
Magnesium alloy AZ91 was prepared by powder metallurgy method, and the effect of sintering temperature on the densities and microstructures of the alloys was investigated. The results show that tight control of the sintering temperature within a narrow range around the liquidus level generates structures with high integrity and reduces some of the disadvantages caused by the higher temperatures. The matrix consists of a-Mg grains/cells surrounds by discontinuous precipitates of Mg17Al12 intermetallics which are normally located at the grain boundaries and triple junction.
