# The Role of Voids in the Cracking of Single-Crystalline Composites with Quasicrystal Phase Fraction

## TL;DR

This paper studies how voids in a new type of composite material contribute to cracking during tensile tests.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel single-crystalline composite with quasicrystal phase and identifies voids as key factors in crack initiation and propagation.

## Key findings

- The composite contains approximately 2.6% voids.
- Cracks initiate at voids and propagate through the matrix and fibers.
- X-ray Laue diffraction confirmed the single-crystalline nature of the composite.

## Abstract

The novel fibrous composites of Al61Cu27Fe12 alloy with a single-crystalline matrix and quasi-crystal phase fraction obtained in situ by directional solidification by the Bridgman method were studied to characterize the voids and their role in composites cracking. The voids were analyzed using light-optical and scanning electron microscopy to study their nature before and after uniaxial tensile tests. Tension tests were performed on plate-like samples up to rupture. The tensile fracture surfaces were also observed and analyzed. The single-crystallinity and crystalographic parameters of composites were studied using the X-ray Laue diffraction method. It was stated that such new type of composite is characterized by a relatively high void content with a ratio of approximately 2.6%. The composite’s cracking is initiated at voids and progress through the voids and stair steps in the matrix and the reinforcing fibers.