Damage characterisation in aluminium matrix composites reinforced with amorphous metal inclusions

Abstract

Aluminium matrix composites with volume fractions of 1 and 4% of amorphous metal inclusions were prepared by mixing powders, spark plasma sintering (SPS) and hot extrusion. The reinforcing phase was a Zr₅₇Cu₂₀Al₁₀Ti₈Ni₅ metallic glass (MG) and the matrix phase consisted of two types of aluminium powders with similar particle sizes but different strengths (pure aluminium and 5083 alloy). Damage mechanisms in tension were characterised quantitatively by X-ray tomography using in situ tensile tests. The transition in the initiation of damage between matrix shearing, inclusion fracture or matrix-inclusion debonding is presented and discussed as a function of the material’s microstructure.

Keywords:

• Amorphous/crystalline composites
• X-ray tomography
• Metallic-glass
• SPS
• Hot extrusion
• Damage characterisation

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Pierre Lhuissier, Luc Salvo and Gilles Boutet for their help during the hot extrusion experiments at the GPM2 Laboratory in Grenoble and for 3D reconstruction. We are also grateful to the ESRF for beam time allocation (Long Term Project N° MA1876) and to Elodie Boller for being our local contact during these experiments.