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The age-hardening characteristics of an AI-6061/AI2O3 metal matrix composite

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Abstract

Experiments were conducted to determine the age-hardening behavior of an Al-6061 metal matrix composite reinforced with ∼20 vol pct of A12O3 microspheres and prepared using liquid metallurgy processing. The presence of alumina microspheres increases the dislocation density in the matrix of the composite in the as-quenched state and, by comparison with the monolithic alloy, this leads to a significant increase in the yield stress in the as-quenched and unaged condition. From measurements of the 0.2 pct proof stress, there is no evidence for any significant acceleration in the aging process in the composite material: both materials attain similar peak-aged conditions after essentially the same aging times. The microstructures of the composite and the monolithic alloy are similar in the peak-aged condition, with a high density of fine needlelike β″ precipitates and, in the over-aged condition, with a reasonably homogeneous distribution of the rod-shaped β′ phase. It is proposed that the aging behavior is better quantified by determining the yield stress rather than by taking hardness measurements. Formerly Visiting Scholar, Kyushu University,

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Xian Institute of Metallurgy and Construction Engineering, 710055, Xian, People’s Republic of China

    Jingtao Wang (Associate Professor)

  2. Department of Technology, Fukuoka University of Education, Fukuoka 811-41, Munakata, Japan

    Minoru Furukawa (Associate Professor)

  3. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, 812, Fukuoka, Japan

    Zenji Horita (AssociateProfessor) & Minoru Nemoto (Professor)

  4. Departments of Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, 90089-1453, Los Angeles, CA

    Yan Ma (Research Assistant Professor) & Terence G. Langdon (Professor)

Authors
  1. Jingtao Wang
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  2. Minoru Furukawa
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  3. Zenji Horita
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  4. Minoru Nemoto
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  5. Yan Ma
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  6. Terence G. Langdon
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Wang, J., Furukawa, M., Horita, Z. et al. The age-hardening characteristics of an AI-6061/AI2O3 metal matrix composite. Metall Mater Trans A 26, 581–587 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02663907

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02663907

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