Mechanical behavior of Al-Li-SiC composites. Part 1: Microstructure and tensile deformation

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1999 · Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A, Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-999-1018-4· OSTI ID:335302

Poza, P; Llorca, J ^[1]

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1. Polytechnic Univ. of Madrid (Spain). Dept. of Materials Science

The microstructure and tensile properties of an 8090 Al-Li alloy reinforced with 15 vol pct SiC particles were investigated, together with those of the unreinforced alloy processed following the same route. Two different heat treatments (naturally aged at ambient temperature and artificially aged at elevated temperature to the peak strength) were chosen because they lead to very different behaviors. Special emphasis was given to the analysis of the differences and similarities in the microstructure and in the deformation and failure mechanisms between the composite and the unreinforced alloy. It was found that the dispersion of the SiC particles restrained the formation of elongated grains during extrusion and inhibited the precipitation of Al{sub 3}Li at ambient temperature. The deformation processes in the peak-aged materials were controlled by the S{prime} precipitates, which acted as barriers for dislocation motion and homogenized the slip. Homogeneous slip was also observed in the naturally aged composite, but not in the unreinforced alloy, where plastic deformation was concentrated in slip bands. The most notorious differences between the alloy and the composite were found in the fracture mechanisms. The naturally aged unreinforced alloy failed by transgranular shear, while the failure of the peak-aged alloy was induced by grain-boundary fracture. The fracture of the composite in both tempers was, however, precipitated by the progressive fracture of the SiC reinforcements during deformation, which led to the early failure at the onset of plastic instability.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 335302
• Journal Information: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A, Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science, Journal Name: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A, Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 40; ISSN MMTAEB; ISSN 1073-5623
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
DISLOCATIONS
FRACTURES
HEAT TREATMENTS
LITHIUM ALLOYS
MICROSTRUCTURE
PRECIPITATION
SILICON CARBIDES
TENSILE PROPERTIES