The age-hardening characteristics of an Al-6061/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} metal matrix composite
- Kyushu Univ., Fukuoka (Japan)
- Fukuoka Univ. of Education (Japan). Dept. of Technology
- Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Experiments were conducted to determine the age-hardening behavior of an Al-6061 metal matrix composite reinforced with {approximately}20 vol pct of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} 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 {beta}{double_prime} precipitates and, in the over-aged condition, with a reasonably homogeneous distribution of the rod-shaped {beta}{prime} phase. It is proposed that the aging behavior is better quantified by determining the yield stress rather than by taking hardness measurements.
- OSTI ID:
- 31964
- Journal Information:
- Metallurgical Transactions, A, Journal Name: Metallurgical Transactions, A Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 26; ISSN 0360-2133; ISSN MTTABN
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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