Effect of Particle Size on Mechanical Properties and Fracture Behaviors of Age-Hardening SiC/Al–Zn–Mg–Cu Composites

作     者：Guonan Ma Dong Wang Bolv Xiao Zongyi Ma Guonan Ma;Dong Wang;Bolv Xiao;Zongyi Ma

作者机构：Institute of Metal ResearchChinese Academy of SciencesShenyang 110016China School of Materials Science and EngineeringUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaShenyang 110016China 

出 版 物：《Acta Metallurgica Sinica(English Letters)》 (金属学报（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2021年第34卷第10期

页      面：1447-1459页

核心收录：

学科分类：08[工学] 0805[工学-材料科学与工程（可授工学、理学学位）] 080502[工学-材料学] 

基　　金：the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2017YFB0703104) the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51771193 and 51931009) 

主　　题：Metal matrix composites Mechanical properties Particle size Fracture behaviors Strengthening mechanisms 

摘      要：15 vol.% SiC/Al-6.5Zn-2.8 Mg-1.7 Cu(wt%) composites with varying particle sizes(3.5, 7.0, 14 and 20 μm), i.e., C-3.5, C-7.0, C-14, and C-20, respectively, were fabricated by powder metallurgy(PM) method and subjected to microstructural examination. The effect of particle size on mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of the T6-treated composites was revealed and analyzed in detail. Element distribution and precipitates variations in the composites with varying particle sizes were emphatically considered. Results indicated that both tensile strength and plasticity of the T6-treated composites increased first and then decreased with particle size decreasing. The C-7.0 composite simultaneously exhibited the highest ultimate tensile strength(UTS) of 686 MPa and best elongation(El.) of 3.1%. The smaller-sized SiC particle would introduce more oxide impurities, which would react with the alloying element in the matrix to cause Mg segregation and depletion. According to strengthening mechanism analysis, the weakening of precipitation strengthening in the T6-treated C-3.5 composite was the main cause of the lower tensile strength. Additionally, the larger SiC particle, the more likely to fracture, especially in the composites with high yield strength. For the T6-treated C-20 composites, more than 75% SiC particles were broken up, resulting in the lowest plasticity. As decreasing particle size, the fracture behaviors of the T6-treated composites would change from particle fracture to matrix alloy fracture gradually.