Significance of Al2O3 particle morphology in the microstructure evolution of cold-sprayed Al-Al2O3 during unconstrained high-pressure torsion

Unconstrained high pressure torsion (HPT) tests were performed on two cold-sprayed Al-Al₂O₃ composites, one with spherical Al₂O₃ particles and the other with angular. Derivation of stress-strain curves during HPT revealed higher von Mises stress in the spherical sample compared to the angular ones, which is the opposite behavior of that observed in tension. Microstructural analysis revealed extensive crack formation in the angular sample, and finite element modelling revealed a greater likelihood of crack formation in the vicinity of angular particles.