Effects of metallic Ti particles on the aging behavior and the influenced mechanical properties of squeeze-cast (SiCp+Ti)/7075Al hybrid composites

The effects of metallic Ti particles on the aging behavior of squeeze-cast (SiCp+Ti)/7075Al hybrid composites and the mechanical properties of the aging treated composites were investigated. Results shown that the precipitation hardening of the hybrid composites during aging processes was delayed due to the segregation of solute Mg atoms in the vicinity of the Ti particles even though the activation energy of the η′ precipitates in the hybrid composites was reduced when compared with the Ti particle-free composites. The segregation of the solute Mg atoms was facilitated as a result of the high diffusivity paths formed by the generated dislocations in the matrix induced by the thermal misfit between the SiC particle and the matrix. The smaller activation energy for the hybrid composite may attribute to a significant reduction in the nucleation rate of the dislocation nucleated η′ precipitates compared with the Ti particle-free composite. After aging treated under the optimum aging conditions, the tensile strength of both composites was improved because of the precipitation hardening of the matrix alloy. In contrast with the reduced ductility of the traditional Ti particle-free composites after aging treatment, the ductility of the Ti particle-containing composites was improved as a result of the strengthened interfaces between the Ti particles and the matrix alloy.