An analysis has been carried out of the impact, tensile and compression behavior of superalloy-toughened NiAl-based composites. The specific systems investigated consisted of IN 718 and X-750 toughened aluminum oxide particle-reinforced NiAl alloyed with hafnium and boron. The composites were fabricated by extrusion so that the superalloy toughening regions extended along the length of the extrusion. Notched impact energy absorption levels in excess of 30 J (20 ft lbs) were achieved in both composite systems, while the fracture toughness levels measured during the instrumented impact testing ranged from 45 to 60 MPa√m (40 to 55 ksi√in). The tensile stress/strain behavior of the composites ranged from failure strain levels comparable to the failure strain of the NiAl regions ( 20%) prior to cracking of the NiAl regions.
