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Comparison of the ageing behaviour of PM 2124 Al alloy and Al-SiCp metal-matrix composite

Journal of Materials Science volume 29, pages 5272–5278 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

The ageing response of 2124 Al-SiC particulate metal-matrix composite (MMC) and unreinforced alloy has been examined using hardness measurements and Arrhenius analysis. The formation of phases during precipitation has been studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The MMC exhibits accelerated ageing compared to unreinforced alloy, due to enhanced S′ formation. The activation energy for diffusion is lower in the MMC than in the unreinforced alloy. DSC scans show Guinier-Preston B (GPB) zone nucleation to occur at a lower temperature in the MMC, whilst the total volume of GPB zones formed is smaller than in the unreinforced alloy. A model has been proposed to explain the GPB zone formation behaviour, in which ease of GPB zone nucleation varies within the MMC, as a function of ageing time and of position within the matrix. S′ formation is enhanced in the MMC because of improved diffusion and a large increase in density of heterogeneous nucleation sites compared to the unreinforced alloy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, CB2 3QZ, Cambridge, UK

    M. P. Thomas & J. E. King

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  1. M. P. Thomas
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Thomas, M.P., King, J.E. Comparison of the ageing behaviour of PM 2124 Al alloy and Al-SiCp metal-matrix composite. J Mater Sci 29, 5272–5278 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01171535

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01171535

Keywords

  • Activation Energy
  • Differential Scanning Calorimetry
  • Ageing Time
  • Nucleation Site
  • Heterogeneous Nucleation