Beta-silicon carbide whiskers are being grown by a vapour-liquid-solid (VLS) process which produces a very high purity, high strength single crystal fibre about 6/~m in diameter and 5-100 mm long. Details of the growth process are given along with a general explanantion of the effects of the major growth parameters on whisker growth morphology.

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A composite consisting of 20 vol% Sic whiskers in a hot-pressed MoSi, matrix was investigated. The composite displayed an =100% increase inflexural strength and a 54% improvement in fracture toughness, compared to the values measured for the matrix material. The improvements are attributed to the change in the microstructure of the MoSi2 afforded by the presence of the whiskers.

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