Strain-Rate-Dependent Micro-Mechanical Behavior of Multiscale In Situ Al3BC Phase-Reinforced Al3BC/Al Composite Manufactured via Solid-State Processing
摘要
High-strength aluminum (Al)-based composites with exceptional ductility require robust strain-hardening capabilities. In this study, an in situ multiscale Al3BC phase-reinforced composite ( > 60% wt.% Al3BC) was successfully fabricated by solid-state processing. The fabrication route involved 7 h of mechanical milling, sintering at 1000 °C for 1 h, and subsequent hot pressing at 400 °C and 40 MPa. The resulting material achieved an excellent balance of strength (284 MPa) and plastic strain (17%). Microstructure analysis revealed a homogeneous matrix with multiscale, micrometer-sized in situ Al3BC reinforcements distributed throughout the Al matrix. Investigation of the strain rate sensitivity (m = 0.032) and low activation volume (V* = 8b3) confirms the thermally activated dislocation storage (ρf = 1.8 × 1016m−2) drives this synergy. Taylor hardening was identified as the primary deformation mechanism, where the plastic flow dislocation density scales with the strain rate (