Particle reinforced metals

Particle Reinforced Metals

A. Hauert, R. Müller, A. Miserez, C. San Marchi, M. Kouzeli, A. Rossoll, L. Weber, A. Mortensen

This was an extensive investigation of the processing, structure and mechanical behaviour of open-celled aluminium-based foams sponsored by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Project aims were to clarify relationships between microstructural parameters and mechanical and physical properties of particle reinforced metals. To this end, packed beds of ceramic particles were infiltrated with molten aluminum-based matrices to produce, after solidification, a composite material containing roughly equal amounts of metal and ceramic. The microstructural simplicity of these metal matrix composites was exploited to investigate, with minimal ambiguity, the link that exists between such microstructural parameters as metal matrix performance, ceramic particle nature, shape or size and composite properties. Focus was placed on two critical mechanical tests for these materials: tensile deformation and fracture toughness. Among the physical properties electrical conductivity was studied in detail. We have shown in particular that, despite their high ceramic content, these materials can be made remarkably strong and tough. We have adapted current micromechanical models to predict in relatively simple terms the non-linear flow curve of these materials, incorporating non-linear matrix deformation and internal damage. We have also explained, with a local load sharing model of damage in these materials, their brittle to ductile transition in tensile fracture.

 

Four-point bend bar of a composite combining roughly 50% alumina with 50% aluminum.Note the high level of plastic deformation that can be achieved in this material: combining metal and ceramic need not produce a brittle material, provided that the ingredients and the processing are of high quality.

 

A selection of scientific articles from this work:

 

M. Kouzeli and A. Mortensen, Size dependent strengthening in particle reinforced aluminium. Acta Materialia, 2002. 50(1): p. 39-51 and (corrigendum) Acta Materialia, 2003. 51(20): p. 6493-6496.

 

 

 

2010

Fracture of high volume fraction ceramic particle reinforced aluminium under multiaxial stress

A. Hauert; A. Rossoll; A. Mortensen 

Acta Materialia. 2010. Vol. 58, num. 11, p. 3895-3907. DOI : 10.1016/j.actamat.2010.03.037.

2009

Particle fracture in high volume fraction ceramic reinforced metals: governing parameters and implications for composite failure

A. Hauert; A. Rossoll; A. Mortensen 

Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. 2009. Vol. 57, num. 11, p. 1781-1800. DOI : 10.1016/j.jmps.2009.08.005.

2009

Young’s modulus of ceramic particle reinforced aluminium: measurement by the Impulse Excitation Technique and confrontation with analytical models

A. Hauert; A. Rossoll; A. Mortensen 

Composites Part A. 2009. Vol. 40, p. 524-529. DOI : 10.1016/j.compositesa.2009.02.001.

2009

Ductile-to-brittle transition in tensile failure of particle reinforced metals

A. Hauert; A. Rossoll; A. Mortensen 

Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. 2009. Vol. 57, p. 473-499. DOI : 10.1016/j.jmps.2008.11.006.

2006

Simplified prediction of the monotonic uniaxial stress-strain curve of non-linear particulate composites

R. Mueller; A. Mortensen 

Acta Materialia. 2006. Vol. 54, num. 8, p. 2145. DOI : 10.1016/j.actamat.2006.01.002.

2006

Increasing the strength/toughness combination of high volume fraction particulate metal matrixComposites using an Al-Ag matrix alloy

A. Miserez; R. Mueller; A. Mortensen 

Advanced Engineering Materials. 2006. Vol. 8, num. 1-2, p. 56. DOI : 10.1002/adem.200500185.

2004

Fracture of aluminium reinforced with densely packed ceramic particles: influence of matrix hardening

A. Miserez; A. Mortensen 

Acta Materialia. 2004. Vol. 52, num. 18, p. 5331-5345. DOI : 10.1016/j.actamat.2004.07.038.

2004

Investigation of crack-tip plasticity in high volume fraction particulate metal matrix composites

A. Miserez; A. Rossoll; A. Mortensen 

Engineering Fracture Mechanics. 2004. Vol. 71, num. 16-17, p. 2385. DOI : 10.1016/j.engfracmech.2004.01.006.

2004

Fracture of aluminium reinforced with densely packed ceramic particles: Link between the local and the total work of fracture

A. Miserez; A. Rossoll; A. Mortensen 

Acta Materialia. 2004. Vol. 52, num. 5, p. 1337-1351. DOI : 10.1016/j.actamat.2003.11.019.

2003

On the influence of the shape of randomly oriented, nonconducting inclusions in a conducting matrix on the effective electrical conductivity

L. Weber; C. Fischer; A. Mortensen 

Acta Materialia. 2003. Vol. 51, num. 2, p. 495-505. DOI : 10.1016/S1359-6454(02)00432-9.

2002

Quasistatic and dynamic compression of aluminum-oxide particle reinforced pure aluminum

C. San Marchi; F. Cao; M. Kouzeli; A. Mortensen 

Materials Science and Engineering A. 2002. Vol. 337, num. 1-2, p. 202. DOI : 10.1016/S0921-5093(02)00035-7.

2002

Effect of reaction on the tensile behavior of infiltrated boron carbide-aluminum composites

M. Kouzeli; C. San Marchi; A. Mortensen 

Materials Science and Engineering A. 2002. Vol. 337, num. 1-2, p. 264. DOI : 10.1016/S0921-5093(02)00039-4.

2001

Influence of damage on the tensile behaviour of pure aluminium reinforced with ?40 vol. pct alumina particles

M. Kouzeli; L. Weber; C. San Marchi; A. Mortensen 

Acta Materialia. 2001. Vol. 49, num. 18, p. 3699. DOI : 10.1016/S1359-6454(01)00279-8.

2001

Quantification of microdamage phenomena during tensile straining of high volume fraction particle reinforced aluminum

M. Kouzeli; L. Weber; C. San Marchi; A. Mortensen 

Acta Materialia. 2001. Vol. 49, num. 3, p. 497-505. DOI : 10.1016/S1359-6454(00)00334-7.

1999

On the use of considere’s criterion in tensile testing of materials which accumulate internal damage

L. Weber; M. Kouzeli; C. San Marchi; A. Mortensen 

Scripta Materialia. 1999. Vol. 41, num. 5, p. 549. DOI : 10.1016/S1359-6462(99)00159-1.