Achieving a desirable combination of strength and workability in Al/SiC composites by AHP selection method

• An Al/SiC composite with best combination of strength and workability was selected.
• Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was applied.
• Several composites produced for a certain purpose, through PM were ranked by AHP method.
• Al/10 wt.%SiC of 16 μm with relative density of 95% and milled for 12 h was preferred material.
• Relative density of composite was the most significant property which affect material’s properties.

Aiming the selection of an Al/SiC composite with best combination of strength and workability, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was applied. Several composites produced for a certain purpose, through powder metallurgy routes having different manufacturing parameters such as size and fraction of reinforcement, milling time and relative density were ranked by AHP method. The instantaneous density coefficient (Ai), instantaneous strain-hardening exponent (ni) and formability stress index (β) were measured under triaxial stress state conditions. AHP results revealed that Al/10 wt.%SiC (16 μm) with relative density of 95% and milled for 12 h, was the preferred composite material. It was also concluded that the relative density of the composite was the most significant property which may affect the mechanical properties of the material.