Warm temperature (170-280°C) uniaxial compresion of SiC reinforced MMCs

Abstract

This work evaluates the effect of warm temperature (170-280°C) uniaxial compression on the deformation behaviour of SiC reinforced Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs). Green and sintered compacts (d=8mm, h=12mm) were produced by blending 2124-Al with SiC (10 or 15 vol. %) powders in a high energy ball mill, cold (i.e.ambient temperature) compaction and sintering at 490°C for 1hr. Warm temperature uniaxial compression tests were performed on a Gleeble 3500® at strain rates of 0.01s-1 and 5s-1 and constant strain of 0.3. Engineering stress-strain curves showed that the best deformation was achieved when sintered MMC compacts were uniaxially compressed at 280°C and strain rate of 5s-1 using a soaking time of 20min.The best deformation was achieved in the 2124-Al with 10%SiC compact since it plastically deformed at a higher, constant stress of ~153MPa up to the maximum strain of 0.3.