Long-Jiang Zhang

The superior ductility of fine SiCp/Al2014 composites after extrusion

Abstract This paper studied the effect of extrusion on the microstructures and tensile properties of 4 vol.% 5 μm SiCp/Al2014 composites fabricated by stir casting. It has been found that extrusion could refine the α-Al grains, increase the distributed homogeneity of SiC particles, decrease the porosity of the composites, and improve the interfacial bonding strength. The tensile properties, especially the ductility, of the fine SiCp/Al2014 composites were significantly improved by extrusion. Compared with the as-cast 4 vol.% 5 μm SiCp/Al2014 composites, the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and fracture strain of the extruded composites increased from 242 MPa, 367 MPa, and 3.8% to 304 MPa, 530 MPa, and 11.2%, which were increased by 25.6%, 44.4%, and 195%, respectively.

Nano-SiCp/Al2014 composites with high strength and good ductility

Abstract In this study, Al2014 matrix composites reinforced with nano-SiC particles were successfully fabricated by semi-solid stirring combined with hot extrusion. The obtained composites exhibited refined α-Al grains, reasonable nano-SiC particles distribution, good interface bonding, and high dislocation density. The addition of 0.5 vol.% nano-sized SiC particles significantly improved the tensile strengths of the Al2014 alloy without sacrificing the ductility. Compared with the Al2014 alloy, the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and fracture strain of 0.5 vol.% nano-SiCp/Al2014 composites increased from 242 MPa, 460 MPa, and 17.1% to 306 MPa, 532 MPa, and 17.7%, respectively.