The present study is undertaken to evaluate the effect of volume fraction on the results of Charpy impact test for the rubber matrix filled with nano sized silica particles composites. The Charpy impact tests are conducted in the temperature range 0°C and –10°C. The range of volume fraction of silica particles tested are between 11% to 25%. The critical energy release rate GIC of the rubber matrix composites filled with nano sized silica particles is affected by silica volume fraction and it is shown that the value of GIC decreases as volume fraction increases. In regions close to the initial crack tip, fracture processes such as matrix deformation, silica particle debonding and delamination, and/or pull out between particles and matrix which is ascertained by SEM photographs of Charpy impact fracture surfaces.

The characteristics of abrasive wear of the rubber matrix composites filled with nano sized silica particles were investigated at ambient temperature by pin-on-disc friction test. The range of volume fraction of silica particles tested are between 11% to 25%. The cumulative wear volume and friction coefficient of these materials on particle volume fraction were determined experimentally. The major failure mechanisms were lapping layers, deformation of matrix, ploughing, deboding of particles and microcracking by scanning electric microscopy photograph of the tested surface. The cumulative wear volume showed a tendency to increase nonlinear with increase of sliding distance. As increasing the silica particles of these composites indicated higher friction coefficient.

The fabrication process and mechanical properties of SiC particle prefrrms with high volume fraction ranged 50∼71% were investigated to make metal matrix composites for possible applications as heat sinks in electronic packares. The SiC particle preforms with 50∼71vol% of reinforcement were fabricated by a new modified process named ball milling and pressing method. The SiC particle performs were fabricated by ball milling of SiC particles with single sized of 48m in diameter or two different size of 8m and 48min diameter, with collodal SiO2 as inorgnic binder in distilled water, and the mixed slurries were cold pressed for consolidation into final prefom. The compressive strengths og calcined SiC particle prefoms increased from 20MPa to 155MPa with increasing the content of inorganis binder, temperature and time for calcination. The increase of compressive strength of SiC particle bridge the interfaces of two neighboring SiC particles.