Effect of Heterogeneous Bimodal Grain Structure on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cu/AZ31 Composites
摘要
A heterogeneous bimodal grain structure Cu/AZ31 composite, consisting of fine-grain (FG) zones and coarse-grain (CG) zones, was fabricated using powder metallurgy combined with hot extrusion. This approach achieved a simultaneous improvement in both strength and ductility. The addition of Cu particles effectively controlled the distribution and area fraction of the CG zones and FG zones. When the micron-sized Cu particles content is 5.0 wt%, the composite exhibits a lamellar alternating arrangement of hard and soft zones, achieving optimal performance (yield strength: 238 MPa, ultimate tensile strength: 337 MPa, and elongation: 15.7%),which, respectively, represent improvements of 27.9%, 22.5%, and 72.5% compared to the matrix. The high hardness of the FG zones enhanced the composite's strength, while the high ductility of the CG zones improved its toughness. Furthermore, the heterogeneous bimodal grain structure's interface-induced hetero-deformation-induced strengthening effectively enhanced both the strength and ductility of the composites.