Investigation of structural formation of Al-SiC surface composite under ball collisions

► Al-SiC surface composite was fabricated by ball collisions at room temperature. ► Structural formation was associated with strain accumulation induced by ball impacts over time. ► Composite formation was the result of mechanical mixing of the plasticized Al and SiC. ► Initial rolling texture of the Al plate was completely destroyed by 10 min of ball collisions. ► Hardness of the composite became almost three times that of the initial Al plate.