Specimen Preparation for Metal Matrix Composites with a High Volume Fraction of Reinforcing Particles for EBSD Analysis

Abstract

The paper deals with a procedure of preparing a specimen surface for the EBSD analysis of a metal matrix composite (MMC) with a high volume fraction of reinforcing particles. Unlike standard procedures of preparing a specimen surface for the EBSD analysis, the proposed procedure is iterative with consecutive application of mechanical and electrochemical polishing. This procedure significantly improves the results of an indexed MMC matrix in comparison with the standard procedure of specimen preparation. The procedure was verified on a MMC with pure aluminum (99.8% Al) as the matrix, SiC particles being used as reinforcing elements. The average size of the SiC particles is 14 lm, and their volume fraction amounts to 50% of the total volume of the composite. It has been experimentally found that, for making the EBSD analysis of a material matrix near reinforcing particles, the difference in height between the particles and the matrix should not exceed 2 lm.

Experimental and numerical investigation of key microstructural features influencing the localization of plastic deformation in Fe-TiB2 metal matrix composite

“…To our knowledge, such a study has not been performed yet on the considered material or any other steel matrix composite. The acquisition of accurate local orientation data in SMCs can be challenging, owing to the strong stiffness and hardening contrasts between steel and hard reinforcements leading to subsequent difficulties in material surface preparation [15][16][17]. In the present study, the estimated angular resolution was close to 0.1°, pushing conventional EBSD to its limits for this kind of material and allowing investigation of the first stages of plastic deformation.…”