Papers by Keyword: Metal Matrix Composite (MMC)

Abstract: 55vol% TiB2P/2024Al composite was fabricated by squeeze casting technology, and the effect of heat treatment on mechanical properties of the composites was studied by means of hardness measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and tensile testing etc. Results show that heat treatment has remarkable influence on the hardness and the tensile strength of the composites. For TiB2P/2024Al composites, the composites aged at 130°C for 5h can obtain the highest hardness, and the composites peak-aged at 160°C and aged at 190°C for 24h can obtain the higher tensile strength, which is due to the type of precipitates in the composites. Considering the experimental error, heat treatments has no obvious effect on elastic modulus of the experimental composite.

Abstract: The effect of temperature on strain softening behavior of composites with small misaligned whiskers is investigated. The results show that the temperature affects the matrix and whisker mechanical behavior and corresponding composite deformation behavior. With increasing temperature, the whisker rotation angle increases, but their breakage decreases. Meanwhile elevating temperature not only reduces the matrix flow stress and work hardening rate, but also decreases load transfer from the matrix to the whiskers and stress induced by the whisker rotation and breakage.It is found that during hot compression, strain softening behavior of composites decreases as temperature increases.

Abstract: SiCw/Al-18Si composites were prepared by squeeze casting technique. SiCw/Al-18Si composites were remelted before solidification. The effects of volume fraction of SiC whisker on solidification behavior of SiCw/Al-18Si composites were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique and microstructure observation. DSC results indicated that the start solidification temperature and primary silicon peak temperature decreased gradually and the degree of supercooling increased with the increasing of SiC whisker content. SiC whisker and Sr decreased the average size of Si phases and improved the mechanical properties of the composites.

Abstract: By incorporating the Taylor-based nonlocal theory of plasticity, the finite element method (FEM) is applied to investigate the effect of particle size on the deformation behavior of the metal matrix composites. In the simulation, the two-dimensional plane strain and random distribution multi-particles model are used. It is shown that, at a fixed particle volume fraction, there is a close relationship between the particle size and the deformation behavior of the composites. The yield strength and plastic work hardening rate of the composites increase with decreasing particle size. The predicted stress-strain behaviors of the composites are qualitative agreement with the experimental results.

Abstract: The uniaxial/multiaxial cyclic deformation behaviors of SiCp/6061Al alloy composites with various particulate volume fractions were studied by uniaxial and multiaxial cyclic straining or stressing tests at room temperature. The cyclic softening/hardening features and ratcheting behaviors of T6-treated composites and un-reinforced matrix were discussed in different loading conditions. It is shown that the ratcheting also occurs in the composites under uniaxial and multiaxial asymmetrical cyclic stressing, and the ratcheting strain increases with stress amplitude and mean stress; however, the addition of SiC particulates into the matrix increases the resistance of the composite to ratcheting. The ratcheting depends greatly on the shapes of loading paths and mainly occurs in the direction of non-zero mean stress.

Abstract: Fiber reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs) are recently used in automobile, ship, aerospace and manufacturing industry because they have high stiffness and strength. The effective utilization of the strength and stiffness of the fiber reinforced MMCs depends on efficient load transfers from the matrix to fibers through the interfacial region. However, during the fabrication and afterward utilization of composites, so many numbers of micro crack may extend, especially at the interface, even before any load has been applied. Thus, in this study, the interfacial stress state and behavior of the interfacial perpendicular crack for transversely loaded unidirectional fiber reinforced MMCs investigated by using the elastic-plastic finite element analysis.

Abstract: The reinforcement of high voltage electric power cables is a promising application field of the composite wires. The temperature of the power cables can reach 200-300 °C due to an over-loaded electrical grid. The composite wires have to stand these high temperatures for a long time in the power cables. Long term heat treatments have been done to examine the eligibility of the composite wires. After heat treatment impact test was applied to measure the changes of the mechanical properties of composite wires. With the instrumented impact tester the process of the failure was examined. In this paper the continuous production method of ceramic fibre reinforced metal matrix composite wires and their properties are shown.

Abstract: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been the subject of intensive studies for applications in the fields of nanotechnologies in recent years due to their superior mechanical, electric, optical and electronic properties. Because of their high Young’s modulus (≈ 1 TPa), tensile strength (≈ 200 GPa) and high elongation (10-30%) as well as high chemical stability, CNTs are considered to be attractive reinforcement materials for light weight and high strength metal matrix composites. In this paper, we described a scheme for multi-scale modeling for the elastic and plastic properties of CNT/metal nanocomposites using the numerical analyses of the three-dimensional finite element method based on the continuum mechanics of a unit cell. In particular, the quantitative effects of the distribution and the array of the CNT reinforcement (viz. cross-over, vertical and horizontal distributions) on the elasticity and plasticity of the nanocomposites were investigated and the anisotropic characteristics of elasticity and plasticity of the nanocomposites were linked with the extremely high aspect ratio of CNTs.

Abstract: TiAl alloys Al composition range between 45 and 49 at%, includes γ-TiAl and α2-Ti3Al, are an emerging high temperature materials which has higher specific strength, oxidation ratio and specific modulus than Ni base superalloy. In this study, TiAl alloys were manufactured by plasma arc melting (PAM) and then TiAl and granular boron carbide were in-situ synthesized in PAM method again. The in-situ synthesized TiAl matrix composites were investigated by using X-ray diffractometer, optical microscope, and electron probe micro-analyzer.

Abstract: Equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) was employed in an attempt to develop nanostructural metal matrix composites with homogenized distribution of reinforcing particles. Zn- Al metal matrix composites reinforced with 5 μm SiC particulates were produced by casting method. A non-uniform distribution of the reinforcing particles was evident in the metal matrix. With repetitive shear deformation imposed via the ECAE process, substantial structural improvement was achieved and the reinforcing particulates were de-clustered into a finely dispersed distribution throughout the metal matrix. The homogeneity of the particle distribution was studied by the Quadrat method and the skew factors were determined. It was found that the skew factors were substantially reduced after 8 extrusion passes, showing the homogeneity of the particle distribution was greatly improved in the composites.