Microstructure and aging response of SiCp reinforced A356 Al metal matrix composite subject to post fabrication thermomechanical processing

Abstract

The microstructure and aging behavior of a centrifugally cast A356 Al-SiCp metal matrix composite was studied as a function of post-fabrication processing via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and differential scanning caloritemetry (DSO). The effects of total rolling strain, strain per rolling pass and rolling temperature on both microstructure and precipitation behavior were investigated. It was found that post fabrication processing had relatively little effect on the kinetics of the various precipitation processes that constitute aging, although they affected the amounts of the various precipitates significantly.