Temperature and Particle Size Influence on the High Cycle Fatigue Behavior of the SiC Reinforced 2124 Aluminum Alloy

Abstract

Abstract:In this work the high cycle fatigue behavior of a particulate reinforced 2124 aluminum alloy, manufactured by powder metallurgy, is investigated. SiC particles with a size of 3 µm and 300 nm and a volume fraction of 5 and 25 vol %, respectively, were used as reinforcement component. The present study is focused on the fatigue strength and the influence of particle size and temperature. Systematic work is done by comparing the unreinforced alloy and the reinforced conditions. All of the material conditions are characterized by electron microscopy and tensile and fatigue testing at room temperature and at 180 • C. With an increase in temperature the tensile and the fatigue strength decrease, regardless of particle size and volume fraction due to the lower matrix strength. The combination of 25 vol % SiC particle fraction with 3 µm size proved to be most suitable to achieve a major fatigue performance at room temperature and at 180 • C. The fatigue strength is increased by 40% when compared to the unreinforced alloy, as it is assumed the interparticle spacing for this condition reaches a critical value then.

Damage evolution in AA2124/SiC metal matrix composites under tension with consecutive unloadings

“…During the MMCs production, metal powders and SiC particles were subjected to high energy mixing, hot isostatic compaction, forging and T6 CWQ (cold water quenching) heat treatment. The chemical composition of the aluminium matrix is presented in [36].…”

Light-Weight Aluminum-Based Alloys—From Fundamental Science to Engineering Applications

“…Siebeck et al [17] consider the high-temperature deformation of different AMCs, with a specific focus on the effect of mechanical alloying of small additions of boron on creep resistance. Completing the multifaceted investigations on the thermo-mechanical behavior of bulk AMCs, Winter et al [18] discuss the effects of different sizes and volume fractions of SiC reinforcements, and of testing temperature, on the high cycle fatigue behavior of a reinforced AA2124 alloy.…”

Microstructure and tensile properties of in-situ synthesized and hot-extruded aluminum-matrix composites reinforced with hybrid submicron-sized ceramic particles

“…The improvements in mechanical properties occasioned by fine particles are because small ceramic particle sizes lead to decrease in inter-particular spacing and increase in the number of interfaces, which prevent the formation of reversible slip bands that in turn result in increased resistance to mechanical deformation. 15 There exist several routes to synthesize various reinforcing phases in-situ and obtain different AMCs. The most common route is reactions of melt-salts because the salts are readily available and cost effective.…”

“…The improvements in mechanical properties occasioned by fine particles are because small ceramic particle sizes lead to decrease in inter-particular spacing and increase in the number of interfaces, which prevent the formation of reversible slip bands that in turn result in increased resistance to mechanical deformation. 15…”