Whiskers of silicon nitride have been incorporated in two representative matrices-silver and an epoxide resin. The techniques are described and the measured properties of the composite materials discussed in the light of existing theories of reinforcement. Reinforcement has been established both in silver and resin, using the whiskers in random orientation. Increases in Young's modulus, tensile strength, and hot strength are obtained with relatively small volume fractions of whiskers. The nature of the discrepancies between practical and ideal values of these properties indicates the course of future work.
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