PhD Student Tushar Bhudia
CMCs at the production level have either PyC or BN interphases, both of which create high-temperature oxidation-related issues. With the aid of SEM, XCT, and nanoindentation techniques, my project aims to develop techniques that characterise novel interphases in a cost-effective/ high-throughput manner suitable for the industrial development of these novel interphases with the goal of creating CMCs applicable for hydrogen jet environments.
The fibres and interphases of each sample will be characterised using thousands of high-resolution stitched SEM images, providing a basis set of properties for each interphase. The individual interphases will then be characterised by in-situ/ex-situ push-in; while the entire minicomposite will be analysed by in-situ XCT, allowing for live tracking of the individual fibres relative push-in's behaviour in tension. Both techniques can be mapped back to the basis set of properties, allowing for efficient improvement of the basis and therefore the sample.