Effects of strain rate and SiC particle on the compressive property of SiCp/AlSi9Mg composite foams

The AlSi9Mg composite foams reinforced by SiC particles (SiCp/AlSi9Mg composite foams) were fabricated with the direct foaming route of melt using CaCO3 blowing agent. The static and dynamic compressive behaviors of the composite foams were investigated utilizing CMT5205 electron universal testing machine and a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar system, respectively. The experimental results show that the yield stress of SiCp/AlSi9Mg composite foams increases with increasing strain rate, the strain hardening occurs during the compression at high strain rate, and SiCp/AlSi9Mg composite foams is more sensitive to the strain rate than Al and Al alloy foams. The yield stress of SiCp/AlSi9Mg composite foams with different volume fractions of SiC particles at high strain rate increases with the increase of the volume fraction of SiC particles.