Abstract
This article examines the reasons for the poor performance of the nanometric scale SiC (n-SiC p ) particulate-reinforced Al 7075 composites. The composites having different volume fractions of the n-SiC p were synthesized via powder metallurgy (P/M) route and were uniaxially tested at room temperature. Experimental results showed a significant drop in the hardness and tensile properties of the composites in comparison with those of the monolithic Al. Microstructural analysis via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed large segregation of Mg in the vicinity of the n-SiC p and at the grain boundaries of the Al matrix, which plausibly changed both the aging kinetics and tensile behavior of the Al matrix. The segregation of Mg increased with an increase in the volume fraction of the n-SiC p in the Al matrix. No Mg segregation was found in the monolithic Al. The clustering of the n-SiC p was observed from SEM with energy dispersive X-ray analysis. SEM also revealed cracks in the n-SiC p clusters and debonding between the clusters and Al matrix, which were considered as the main mode of fracture in the composites.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the University of New South Wales @ Australian Defence Force Academy for supporting the research work reported in this article. The authors are obliged to the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) for supporting the materials’ synthesis performed at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO) under AINSE Grant No. AINGRA07167. The authors also thank the Electron Microscopy Unit (EMU), Australian National University, Canberra for assisting with the SEM.
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Manuscript submitted May 23, 2009.
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Ahmed, A., Neely, A.J., Shankar, K. et al. Synthesis, Tensile Testing, and Microstructural Characterization of Nanometric SiC Particulate-Reinforced Al 7075 Matrix Composites. Metall Mater Trans A 41, 1582–1591 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-010-0201-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-010-0201-y