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Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al6061-31vol.% B4C Composites Prepared by Hot Isostatic Pressing

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Abstract

Fabrication of durable and usable composites with high content of B4C (up to 31vol.%) is quite challenging in several aspects including blending, cold isostatic pressing, and hot isostatic pressing (HIP), and especially the optimal HIP process is essential to achieve the metal matrix composite with desirable properties. The microstructure and mechanical properties of Al6061-31vol.% B4C with different particle sizes were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tensile testing, respectively. SEM analysis and quantitative measurements of the particle distribution reveal that B4C particles were uniformly distributed in the matrix without agglomeration when the HIP treatment temperature was about 580 °C, and x-ray diffraction also identified a dispersion of B4C particles as well as reaction products (AlB2 and Al3BC) in the composites. Microhardness of Al6061-31vol.% B4C composites was improved with B4C particle size, and the tensile strength of all the samples declined with an increase in B4C particle size. The contribution from different strengthening mechanisms was also discussed.

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Acknowledgment

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of the National High-Tech R&D Program (863 Program) (No. 2013AA030704) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11305149).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Science and Technology on Surface Physics and Chemistry Laboratory, Mianyang, 621907, China

    Yajiang Xian, Shixiong He, Xin Wang & Pengcheng Zhang

  2. China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, 621900, China

    Xiaoxuan Pang & Wei Wang

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  1. Yajiang Xian
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  2. Xiaoxuan Pang
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Correspondence to Yajiang Xian.

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Xian, Y., Pang, X., He, S. et al. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al6061-31vol.% B4C Composites Prepared by Hot Isostatic Pressing. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 24, 4044–4053 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-015-1675-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-015-1675-y

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