Abstract
Based on microstructure characteristics of Meretrix lusoria shell and Rapana venosa shell, bionic coupling layered B4C/5083Al composites with different layered structures and hard/soft combination models were fabricated via hot pressed sintering. The simplified bionic coupling models with hard and soft layers were similar to layered structure and hardness tendency of shells, guiding the bionic design and fabrication. B4C/5083Al composites with various B4C contents and pure 5083Al were treated as hard and soft layers, respectively. Hot pressed sintering maintained the designed bionic structure and enhanced high bonding strength between ceramics and matrix. Compared with B4C/5083Al composites, bionic layered composites exhibited high mechanical properties including flexural strength, fracture toughness, compressive strength and impact toughness. The hard layers absorbed applied loads in the form of intergranular fracture. Besides connection role, soft layers restrained slabbing phenomenon and reset extension direction of cracks among layers. The coupling functions of bionic composites proved the feasibility and practicability of bionic fabrication, providing a new method for improvement of ceramic/Al composite with properties of being lightweight and high mechanical strength.
Highlights
With the development of science and industrial technology, the applied conditions of high temperature, speed and load increase the requirements of combination properties of materials
We investigated structure characteristics of two typical shells of Meretrix lusoria and Rapana venosa
Meretrix lusoria shell can be divided into three layers with different microhardness: horny layer
Summary
With the development of science and industrial technology, the applied conditions of high temperature, speed and load increase the requirements of combination properties of materials. Aerospace, weapons, vehicles and ships, besides the low density, high level of strength and high level of toughness, materials should have an impact resistance property, which enhanced difficulties of design and fabrication of engineering materials. As a candidate for engineering materials, a ceramic reinforced Al matrix composite combined a high elastic modulus, strength and hardness of ceramics and the low density and high ductility of Al [1,2,3,4], leading to the characteristics of being lightweight and having a high level of strength of ceramic/Al composites. Besides the increase of specific strength and modulus, the addition of ceramics including TiC, TiB2 , SiC and B4 C [5,6,7,8,9] decreases the tenacity of an Al matrix, resulting in the possibility of brittle rupture.
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