Abstract: Short mullite fibre reinforced Al-4.0Cu-1.85Mg composite and unreinforced monolithic alloy were fabricated through squeeze casting route. The age-hardening behaviour, precipitation procedure, microstructure of dislocation and precipitates and the interfacial structure have been studied by means of hardness measurement(HB), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and analytical transmission electron microscope(ATEM), respectively. It is found that short mullite fibre in the composite induces high dislocation density in the near vicinity of the interface after solutionized and ice-water quenched, suppresses or delays the formation of GPB zones. The aged hardness of the composite is always higher than that of the monolithic alloy,but there appears little difference between the times needed in the composite and in the monolith to reach the peak hardness, which means that the acceleration effect of mullite fibre on the precipitation of Al-Cu-Mg alloy is not great enough. It is also found that Mg reacts with Al and SiO2, resulting in the formation of spinel(MgAl2O4), hence depleting Mgin the matrix and finally hindering the ageing acceleration in the testing composite.
Effects of fibres and interfacial reactions on ageing behaviour of short mullite fibre reinforced Al-4.0Cu-1.85Mg composite
Abstract:
Short mullite fibre reinforced Al 4.0Cu 1.85Mg composite and unreinforced monolithic alloy were fabricated through squeeze casting route. The age hardening behaviour, precipitation procedure, microstructure of dislocation and precipitates and the interfacial structure have been studied by means of hardness measurement (HB) , differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and analytical transmission electron microscope (ATEM) , respectively. It is found that short mullite fibre in the composite induces high dislocation density in the near vicinity of the interface after solutionized and ice water quenched, suppresses or delays the formation of GPB zones. The aged hardness of the composite is always higher than that of the monolithic alloy, but there appears little difference between the times needed in the composite and in the monolith to reach the peak hardness, which means that the acceleration effect of mullite fibre on the precipitation of Al Cu Mg alloy is not great enough. It is also found that Mg reacts with Al and SiO 2, resulting in the formation of spinel (MgAl 2O 4) , hence depleting Mg in the matrix and finally hindering the ageing acceleration in the testing composite.