Thermal treatment effects in SiC/Al metal matrix composites

A short-fibre-reinforced SiC/Al-7% Si-0.6% Mg composite has been subjected to thermal cycling and elevated temperature isothermal exposure treatments. The microstructure and residual mechanical properties have been determined as a function of these treatments. It was found that isothermal or cycling treatment at 350 °C caused severe room-temperature strength degradation while treatment at 525 °C caused little change. Strength changes are attributed principally to precipitation and dissolution effects and to transfer of magnesium from the matrix into the fibre/matrix interfacial reaction layer. There was no evidence of mechanical damage resulting from the cycling treatments.     

Influence of microstructure of fibre/matrix interface on mechanical properties of Al/SiC composites

Abstract

The relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties of composites of squeeze cast Al–Cu and Al–Cu–Mg reinforced with 25 vol.-%SiC whiskers was investigated. Tensile test results were compared with values calculated using a modified rule of mixtures (ROM). The results were found to be in good agreement for the Al–Cu matrix composite, whereas a relatively large discrepancy was observed for the Al–Cu–Mg matrix composite. It was concluded from microstructural observations that this difference resulted from a reduction of the whisker strength due to more pronounced decoration of the interfaces by oxides and spinels. For the Al–Cu–Mg composite, the effect of interfacial phases on the composite strength must betaken into account when the modified ROM is applied.

MST/1242     

Microstructural characterization of SiC/Al and FP/Al metal matrix composites subjected to dynamic loadings

The Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar technique was used to study the dynamic response of silicon carbide particle- and whisker-reinforced aluminium (SiC/Al-P and SiC/Al-W) and continuous Fibre FP-reinforced aluminium (FP/Al), metal matrix composites, subjected to high strain rates in the range of 300–3200 s^–1. The response of these composites was characterized by macroscopic and microscopic observations. Experiments on SiC/Al-W and FP/Al were conducted with the whiskers/fibres oriented in the axial, as well as, in the transverse direction with respect to the loading direction. It was observed that for the silicon carbide-reinforced metal matrix composites, the dynamic flow stress values were consistently higher than the static/quasi-static values. Experiments conducted on FP/Al with the fibres oriented transversely to the loading direction, revealed failure stress values considerably lower than the static/quasi-static values. This anomalous behaviour was attributed to the predominantly shear mode failure of the material. Microscopic observations using optical and scanning electron microscopy corroborate the macroscopically observed behaviour.     

Material characterisation and mechanical properties of Al2O3-Al metal matrix composites

The mechanical properties of metal matrix composites (MMCs) are critical to their potential application as structural materials. A systematic examination of the effect of particulate volume fraction on the mechanical properties of an Al₂O₃-Al MMC has been undertaken. The material used was a powder metallurgy processed AA 6061 matrix alloy reinforced with MICRAL-20, a polycrystalline microsphere reinforcement consisting of a mixture of alumina and mullite. The volume fraction of the reinforcement was varied systematically from 5 to 30% in 5% intervals. The powder metallurgy composites were extruded then heat treated to the T6 condition. Extruded liquid metallurgy processed AA 6061 was used to establish the properties of the unreinforced material.     

Corrosion behavior of SiC p /6061 Al metal matrix composites in chloride solutions

The corrosion behavior of silicon carbide particulates-aluminum metal matrix composites was studied in chloride solution by means of electrochemical techniques, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and optical microscope. The materials under investigation were compocasting processed 6061 Al reinforced with increasing amounts of SiC particulates. Electrochemical tests such as potentiostatic polarization were done in 0.1 kmol·m^–3 NaCl solutions that were aerated and deaerated to observe overall corrosion behavior. In addition, pit morphology was observed after immersion tests. It was seen that the pitting potentials did not vary greatly or show definite trends in relation to the amounts of SiC _p reinforcement. However, the degree of corrosion increased with increasing SiC _p content; probably mainly due to galvanic couple. No intermetallics layer was found at the SiC _p /Al interface. Based on pitting potentials of Al-Si alloys, a pitting process around SiC particulate was proposed.Abbreviations SiC _p (silicon carbide particulates) - SiC _f (silicon carbide fibers) - SiC _w (silicon carbide whiskers) - E_pit (pitting potential) - E_prot (protection potential) - E _corr (corrosion potential) - i _galv (galvanic current density) - E _galv (galvanic potential)     

Effect of type of processing on the microstructural features and mechanical properties of Al-Cu/SiC metal matrix composites

In this study, an aluminum based metallic matrix (Al-2wt.% Cu) was reinforced with SiC particulates using a conventional casting technique and a new disintegrated melt deposition technique. Microstructural characterization studies conducted on the samples taken from disintegrated melt deposition technique revealed a more uniform distribution of SiC particulates and good interfacial integrity between SiC particulates and metallic matrix when compared to the conventionally cast composite samples. Results of ambient temperature mechanical tests demonstrate an increase in 0.2% YS and ultimate tensile strength of samples taken from disintegrated melt deposition technique when compared with the unreinforced and conventionally cast composite samples. The results of microstructural characterization and mechanical testing were finally rationalized in terms of the nature of processing technique employed to reinforce Al-2wt.% Cu metallic matrix with SiC particulates.     

An approach to the mechanical behaviour of SiC/SiC and C/SiC ceramic matrix composites

The mechanical behaviour of two woven composites C/SiC and SiC/SiC was investigated at room temperature. The non-linear load-displacement curves and the damaging process were closely related to the specific structure of the composites, consisting of a network of impregnated bundles of fibres. The damage in the bundles proceeded by multiple cracking in the matrix before fibre failure, and dictated the response to the applied load. Other mechanisms, consisting mainly of distortions in bundles and their framework, induced a residual deformation and an energy dissipation. The behaviour was characterized according to the damaging process. Stress-electric strain curves revealed a mechanical response similar to those observed in unidirectional composites, although some effect of the specimen geometry on the curves was observed. Residual strains were similar in tensile and bending conditions. The work of fracture was consistently described by a volumetric rate of energy absorption, related to the applied strain, but the respective contributions of different damage mechanisms could not be determined.     

Influence of SiC and Al2O3 particulate reinforcements and heat treatments on mechanical properties and damage evolution of Al-2618 metal matrix composites

This investigation is mainly aimed to study the influence of SiC and Al₂O₃ particles on the mechanical properties and damage evolution behaviors of an aluminum alloy Al-2618. Heat treatments for the composites are also studied to optimize their mechanical properties. The results of tensile tests show that SiC particulate reinforcement has advantages over Al₂O₃ reinforcement in both strength and ductility for the composites. T4 treatment is suggested for the composites rather than conventional peak-aging treatment (T6). T4 heat treatment with an additional of 0.6% pre-strain can result in same UTS and a 0.2% proof stress for the composites as high as T6 treatment but the final elongation under T4 treatment is larger than that under T6 treatment by more than 100%. Based on observation of damage evolution behaviors of the reinforcing particles, a theory that strength of the composites is mainly decided by the balance between reinforcing particles sharing load and making strain discontinuity in the matrix is proposed to interpret the test results. Their tolerance for large local strain at the interface, their high K_1c and their low thermal expansion make SiC particles sharing much load and the better reinforcement over Al₂O₃ particles in respect to both strength and ductility of the composites.     

Experimental investigation and prediction of wear properties of Al/SiC metal matrix composites produced by thixomoulding method using Artificial Neural Networks

In this study, the wear properties of the SiC particle reinforced aluminium (A356) composite materials (MMCs), produced with thixomoulding method, were investigated both by experimental and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model in order to determine the weight loss after the wear tests. Two different temperatures (590 °C and 600 °C) were used in production of the MMCs containing 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% SiC (vol%). The samples of MMC were tested at 2 ms⁻¹ constant sliding speed under 30 N and 60 N loads against four different sliding distances (500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, and 2000 m). The results indicated that by increasing the production temperature increased the grain size of the MMCs was increased, but the hardness was decreased. The MMCs produced at 590 °C were found to have lower weight loss as compared with ones produced at 600 °C. In the theoretical prediction model of the MMCs, weight loss, SiC per cent, production temperature, applied weight and sliding distance were used as input values. After comparing the experimental results and the ANNs predicted data it was observed that R² was 0.9855. This shows that the developed prediction model has a high level of reliability.     

Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of SiC/Al2O3 particulate-reinforced spray-deposited metal-matrix composites

In this study, aluminium-copper-based metal-matrix composites were synthesized utilizing the spray atomization and co-deposition technique. Microstructural characterization studies were carried out with an emphasis on understanding the effects associated with the co-injection of silicon carbide and aluminium oxide particulates. The results demonstrate the ageing kinetics of the spray-deposited and hot-extruded metal-matrix composites to be the same as those of the monolithic aluminium-copper material. Results of ambient temperature mechanical tests demonstrate that the presence of particulate reinforcement in the metal matrix does little to improve strength, and degrades the ductility of the matrix material. A model is formulated to compute the critical volume fraction of reinforcement. The results obtained using this model suggest that an optimum volume fraction of silicon carbide is essential in order to realize a strength improvement in the metal-matrix composite, relative to their monolithic counterpart.     

Production and mechanical properties of metallic glass-reinforced Al-based metal matrix composites

Al-based metal matrix composites were synthesized through powder metallurgy methods by hot extrusion of elemental Al powder blended with different amounts of metallic glass reinforcements. The glass reinforcement was produced by controlled milling of melt-spun Al₈₅Y₈Ni₅Co₂ glassy ribbons. The composite powders were consolidated into highly dense bulk specimens at temperatures within the supercooled liquid region. The mechanical properties of pure Al are improved by the addition of the glass reinforcements. The maximum stress increases from 155 MPa for pure Al to 255 and 295 MPa for the samples with 30 and 50 vol.% of glassy phase, respectively. The composites display appreciable ductility with a strain at maximum stress ranging between 7% and 10%. The mechanical properties of the glass-reinforced composites can be modeled by using the iso-stress Reuss model, which allows the prediction of the mechanical properties of a composite from the volume-weighted averages of the components properties.     

SiC_P表面镀Ti改性对SiC_P/Al2014复合材料组织及力学性能的影响

采用盐浴镀的方法对SiC_P进行表面镀Ti处理,并通过搅拌铸造的方法制备了表面镀Ti改性SiC_P/Al2014复合材料。研究了镀Ti SiC_P的尺寸和体积分数对SiC_P/Al2014复合材料微观组织和力学性能的影响规律。结果表明:表面镀Ti处理能有效改善SiC_P在Al基体中的分散均匀性;但随着SiC_P体积分数提高,相同尺寸的镀Ti SiC_P在Al基体分散均匀性逐渐变差,当SiC_P体积分数相同时,其在Al基体中的分散均匀性随着SiC_P尺寸的增加逐渐变好。SiC_P尺寸相同时,SiC_P/Al2014复合材料的常温拉伸强度随颗粒体积分数的增加先增大后减小,SiC_P尺寸为5μm和10μm的SiC_P/Al2014复合材料抗拉强度在颗粒的体积分数为4%时达到最高,分别为524MPa和536MPa;SiC_P/Al2014复合材料的高温(493K)抗拉强度随着SiCp体积分数增加而增大,SiC_P尺寸为5μm和10μm的SiC_P/Al2014复合材料抗拉强度在颗粒体积分数为6%时达到最高,分别为308 MPa和320 MPa。     

SiCP/Al复合材料的拉伸性能

对高体积分数碳化硅颗粒增强铝基(SiC_P/Al)复合材料的拉伸强度进行了试验研究。发现在较高应力水平下经过2次卸载的试件与未做卸载的试件相比,拉伸强度变化很小,说明加载-卸载过程对材料的拉伸强度影响不大。在试验研究的基础上,使用ANSYS软件建立了有限元模型,对SiC_P/Al复合材料的拉伸特性进行了仿真模拟。研究结果表明,低体积分数SiC_P/Al复合材料的力学性能更接近塑性材料;而高体积分数SiC_P/Al复合材料的力学性能则接近于脆性材料。拉伸强度模拟计算误差非常小,基体破坏是导致高体积分数SiC_P/Al复合材料破坏的主要因素。     

Processing of advanced Al/SiC particulate metal matrix composites under intensive shearing – A novel Rheo-process

Particulate metal matrix composites (PMMCs) have attracted interest for application in numerous fields. The current processing methods often produce agglomerated particles in the ductile matrix and as a result these composites exhibit extremely low ductility. The key idea to solve the current problem is to adopt a novel Rheo-process allowing the application of sufficient shear stress (τ) on particulate clusters embedded in liquid metal to overcome the average cohesive force or the tensile strength of the cluster. In this study, cast A356/SiC_p composites were produced using a conventional stir casting technique and a novel Rheo-process. The microstructure and properties were evaluated. The adopted Rheo-process significantly improved the distribution of the reinforcement in the matrix. A good combination of improved ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and tensile elongation (ε) is obtained.     

团簇对粉末热挤压铝基复合材料力学性能的影响

为明确晶须团簇行为对材料力学性能的影响,采用粉末热挤压法制备了硼酸镁晶须增强铝基复合材料,对不同含量的晶须增强铝基复合材料进行了力学性能测试,并基于载荷传递模式提出相应的模型对材料强度进行预测.结果表明:随着硼酸镁晶须含量的增加,团簇加剧;当晶须体积分数大于10%时,材料力学性能降低;提出的模型考虑了团簇因素,成功预测了复合材料的实验强度.     

三维网络SiC/Cu金属基复合材料的凝固显微组织

用挤压铸造法制备了三维网络SiC/Cu金属基复合材料,研究了铸造压力、网络SiC骨架预热温度、浇注温度等工艺条件对复合材料凝固显微组织的影响.结果表明,三维网络SiC陶瓷骨架在晶体生长和结晶过程中有重要作用,在一定条件下在网孔内可形成垂直于骨架表面的枝晶网络,或形成粒度细小且分布均匀的等轴晶组织;骨架的孔径对显微组织的影响也很大,细小的孔径有利于晶粒细化和组织均匀化,粗大的孔径助长宏观偏析和铅的偏聚.骨架减轻了复合材料中锡的反常偏析,使锡的偏析主要发生在骨架表面附近的微小区域,从而避免了在铸件表层的集中偏析.     

Microstructural analysis of isothermally exposed Ti/SiC metal matrix composites

Specimens of diffusion-bonded titanium metal matrix composites have been subjected to thermal exposure treatments and examined principally by transmission electron microscopy. The fibres investigated were SCS-6 and Sigma. The fibre/matrix reaction layers have been shown to consist of titanium carbide and two titanium silicides. The reaction proceeds by the initial formation of a layer of TiC followed by a layer of mixed silicides, Ti₅Si₄ and Ti₅Si₃. Extensive porosity is generated during the reaction and this prevents the formation of a completely protective interfacial layer.     

Pitting behavior of SiCp/2024 Al metal matrix composites

The effects of the volume fraction of SiC particulate reinforcements and the concentration of chloride ions in solution on the localized corrosion characteristics of SiCp/2024 Al metal matrix composites (MMC) were investigated. A scanning micro reference electrode (SMRE) technique was employed to study the dynamic process of pitting initiation and development on the surface of the composites at open-circuit potential. Potentiodynamic polarizations were performed to characterize the electrochemical behavior of the MMCs. The morphology of the localized attack on the MMC sample after corrosion tests were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of electrochemical measurement showed that the composites were less resistant to pit initiation than the corresponding unreinforced metrix alloy. Increase in the volume fraction of SiCp reinforcement in the SiCp/2024 Al composites resulted in a significant decrease of pitting potential. In situ potential mapping of active centers on the surfaces of the composites revealed that local breakdown of passivity and initiation of micro pitting corrosion could take place even at an open-circuit potential which was more negative than the pitting potential, and the number of active centers on the surfaces of the composites increased as the volume fraction of SiC particulates in MMCs increased. Micro-structural analysis indicated that pitting attack on the composites mainly occurred at SiCp-Al interfaces or inclusions-Al interfaces.