Effect of particle size on the dynamic mechanical behaviour and deformed microstructure of SiCp/Al composites

Abstract

In this paper, the effect of particle size on the dynamic behaviour and deformed microstructure in pure Al matrix composites reinforced with 30% ansd 40% volume fraction of 6, 13.5 and 50 μm SiC particles was investigated by using split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). Firstly, the dynamic compressive stress-strain curves of SiCp/Al composites with 3 different particle sizes were obtained and the effect of the particle size on the stress-strain relationship was studied by a comparison analysis. Furthermore, the microstructure characteristics after the impact were observed by the scanning electron microscopy(SEM). The microstructure of SiCp/Al composites with 3 different particle sizes after the impact was compared. The results have demonstrated that the dynamic mechanical behaviour and the microstructure after the impact strongly depends on the particle size. The cracked particles and debonding are more readily observed in the composites reinforced with large particles than those in the composites with small particles. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.