Evolution of the effective elastic properties of metal matrix composites during the synthesis

Abstract

We propose a simple analytical model to evaluate changes in the overall elastic properties of metal matrix composites during the manufacturing process. The problem is solved in several steps. First, the moving boundary problem on formation and growth of the transient layer between the matrix and inhomogeneities is solved analytically in quasi-stationary approximation. This solution is used to estimate changes in phase concentrations during the synthesis and to calculate effective properties of the representative inhomogeneous inclusion (of variable size) consisting of the core inhomogeneity and growing transit layer. At the last stage, variation of the effective properties of a composite with varying concentrations of phases during the synthesis is evaluated using micromechanical homogenization schemes. The approach is illustrated on example of Al/W composite when Al5W phase is formed.