Fracture of particles in a particle/metal matrix composite under plastic straining and its effect on the Young's modulus of the composite

Abstract

Fracture of Al2O3 particles in an Al2O3 particle/aluminum alloy metal matrix composite (MMC) under plastic straining was observed by in-situ tensile testing in a scanning electron microscope. The fracture of larger sized particles was found to be preferred to that of smaller sized ones for a given plastic strain. The Young's modulus (Ec) of plastically strained MMC was reduced with increase in plastic strain (εp). The analytical model based on Eshelby's equivalent inclusion method was constructed to explain the relationship between Ec and εp, resulting in a good agreement with the experimental results.