Abstract
This paper describes development of a new fiber-reinforced metal (FRM) which have a self-repairing function as well as high mechanical properties. The author proposed a FRM having fiber/matrix interfacial layer which can be locally melted and then solidified to enable debonding and bonding reversibly between the fiber and matrix. As an example in this study, a stainless steel fiber/aluminum composite with Zn-Al interfacial layer was made by the interphase forming/bonding method developed by the author. The fiber pull-out force was examined as a function of temperature and the result shows that it drastically decreases beyond the eutectic temperature of the interfacial layer due to its local melting. At this temperature, the reduced force can be increased only by holding because of the mutual diffusion between the interfacial layer and matrix. These behaviors can be used for repair or prevention of fracture of the composite.
