Composites of Aluminium Alloy Matrix Reinforced by a Steel Mesh

Abstract

Composites with an aluminium and aluminium alloy matrix are lightweight engineering materials for applications in aircraft, defence and automotive industries. On aluminium alloy and aluminium matrices composites with a steel mesh were hot closed die – forged. In one set of experiments processing was with a liquid phase content in an Al9Si3Cu alloy matrix, in the second, processing was in solid state of PM aluminium matrix. The possibility was demonstrated of production of lightweight flat and shape composite products with full filling of the steel mesh and density of solid materials. The best filling was for mesh side 1.6mm. The brittle Fe-Al phase was not observed between the matrix and the steel wire. The best result of bend strength 431MPa, nucleation of cracking 262MPa and deflection 1.75mm, was for a fully filled steel mesh composite reinforced with steel wire below the centre line. At a content of about 90% aluminum matrix, failure in the composite during dynamical loading did not take place.