Determination of mechanical properties of aluminium matrix composites constituents

This work presents nanoindentation experiments with Berkovich tips, carried out on an Al–Li 8090 alloy reinforced with 15 vol.% SiC particles to determine hardness and Young's modulus of the metal matrix and the ceramic reinforcements. The influence of pile-up effect has been estimated performing a finite element model of the nanoindentation tests to provide values representative of the materials’ behaviour. Results indicate a clear increase in matrix hardness in comparison with the unreinforced alloy and a slow decrease with the distance to the reinforcement particles. Piling up of the material tested overestimates the results obtained through nanoindentation. This effect could be corrected by means of the simulated test analysis.