Whiskers

Whiskers are small fibrous single crystals of mineral origin used as reinforcing material.

Because whiskers (or trichites) are perfect single crystals, their mechanical properties (modulus and tensile strength) are much higher than those of fibres or filaments.

There are trichites of:

• carbon;
• silicon carbide;
• alumina etc.

Their use is mainly restricted to composite materials on a metal matrix.