Al 5083/SiCp composites produced by continual annealing and roll-bonding

Recently, roll bonding processes have been used as a method to fabricate particle reinforced metal matrix composites. In the present research, 5083 aluminum alloy matrix composites reinforced with particulate silicon carbide (SiC) were successfully produced in the form of strips by continual annealing and roll-bonding (CAR) in a warm condition. In this process, SiC powders were firstly dispersed among the Al strips stacked over each other, and then they were roll-bonded with a specific draft percentage of reduction. In the CAR process, the strips were annealed before each roll-bonding cycle. Microstructural evaluations by optical microscopy revealed a suitable dispersion of the SiC particles within the matrix of the eight cycles processed composite and also a decrement in porosities by increasing the CAR cycle. The mechanical properties of the produced composites were investigated by tensile and hardness tests. The results showed that the strength and hardness of the CAR processed composites were enhanced by increasing the rolling cycles. The investigation of the fracture surfaces after the tensile tests revealed the shear ductile rupture mode of failure in both of the CAR-processed composites and monolithic sample.