The control of grain size and distribution of particles in a (6061 alloy){sub m}/(Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}){sub p} composite by solutionizing treatment

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Metallurgical Transactions, A

OSTI ID:282248

Varma, S K; Ponce, J; Solis, M; Andrews, S; Salas, D ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Texas, El Paso, TX (United States). Dept. of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering

The grain growth during an isothermal treatment at a solutionizing temperature of 540 C has been studied in a composite containing 6061 aluminum alloy matrix with Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles. The grain growth law is generally applicable to the composites containing 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 volume fraction of the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles (VFAP). It has been observed that the grain growth process involves the disintegration of the agglomerated particles first and then particles coalesce at longer solutionizing times in the composite containing 0.20 VFAP. The process of coalescence has not been observed up to a heating time of 20 hours at this temperature in the composites containing 0.10 and 0.15 VFAP. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study indicates the generation of a large number of dislocations in both the matrix and the area adjacent to the particles. The dislocation densities at these two locations in the composites increase with an increase in VFAP and the particle size. The microhardness measurements confirm the microstructural observations, and the hardness values for the composite and the matrix appear to be more sensitive to the particle distribution and the particle size compared to the grain size.

• OSTI ID: 282248
• Journal Information: Metallurgical Transactions, A, Journal Name: Metallurgical Transactions, A Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 27; ISSN 0360-2133; ISSN MTTABN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
AGGLOMERATION
AGING
ALUMINIUM BASE ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COALESCENCE
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
COPPER ADDITIONS
DISLOCATIONS
GRAIN GROWTH
HARDNESS
HEAT TREATMENTS
MAGNESIUM ALLOYS
PARTICLE SIZE
PARTICULATES
SILICON ADDITIONS
TIME DEPENDENCE
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY