Tensile Properties of Aluminum Matrix Composites Reinforced With Submicron SiC Particles

The submicron SiC particulates reinforced aluminum metal matrix composites (Al MMCs) were fabricated by powder metallurgy technique, and their microstructure and tensile properties were investigated. The results show that the Al MMCs obviously exhibit an increase in ultimate tensile strength and yield strength due to both dislocation density strengthening and dispersion strengthening mechanisms, and a decrease in elongation with increasing concentration of SiC particles compared with those of the unreinforced Al due to the agglomeration of SiC superfine particles. The tensile fracture surfaces show that the damage mechanism of the Al MMCs can change with the concentrations of SiC superfine particles and the cracks easily originate from the SiC agglomerations.