Microdeformation Behaviour of Al/SiCp Composites

Metal Matrix ceramic-reinforced composites are rapidly becoming strong candidates as structural materials for many high temperatures and aerospace applications. Metal matrix composites combine the ductile properties of the matrix with a brittle phase of the reinforcement, leading to high stiffness and strength with a reduction in structural weight. The satisfactory performance of metal matrix composites depends critically on their integrity, the heart of which is the quality of the matrix-reinforcement interface. The nature of the interface depends on the processing of the metal matrix composite component. The Al/SiCp composites studied, processed in specific thermo-mechanical conditions in order to attain higher values of interfacial fracture strength, due to precipitation hardening and segregation mechanisms, also exhibited enhanced bulk mechanical and fracture resistant properties. An analytical model to predict the interfacial fracture strength in the presence of material segregation was also developed during this research effort.