Abstract
In this work the high cycle fatigue behavior of a particulate reinforced 2124 aluminum alloy, manufactured by powder metallurgy, is investigated. SiC particles with a size of 3 μm and 300 nm and a volume fraction of 5 and 25 vol %, respectively, were used as reinforcement component. The present study is focused on the fatigue strength and the influence of particle size and temperature. Systematic work is done by comparing the unreinforced alloy and the reinforced conditions. All of the material conditions are characterized by electron microscopy and tensile and fatigue testing at room temperature and at 180 °C. With an increase in temperature the tensile and the fatigue strength decrease, regardless of particle size and volume fraction due to the lower matrix strength. The combination of 25 vol % SiC particle fraction with 3 μm size proved to be most suitable to achieve a major fatigue performance at room temperature and at 180 °C. The fatigue strength is increased by 40% when compared to the unreinforced alloy, as it is assumed the interparticle spacing for this condition reaches a critical value then.
Highlights
The performance requirements of materials for advanced engineering applications in the aerospace and automotive industry call for lightweight structural composite materials
In contrast to fatigue at room temperature, the condition with 25 vol % and 3 μm particle size exhibits the highest fatigue strength with 320 MPa, which is an increase by 40% if compared to the unreinforced alloy at 180 ◦ C
The tensile properties and the fatigue behavior of the unreinforced alloy and the four reinforced conditions were compared at room temperature and at 180 ◦ C
Summary
The performance requirements of materials for advanced engineering applications in the aerospace and automotive industry call for lightweight structural composite materials. The mechanical properties and the fatigue performance of the AMCs are strongly determined by different factors. Particle shape [14,15], particle size, and volume fraction [16,17,18,19,20] are critical factors for the mechanical properties and fatigue behavior of the AMCs. Due to an enhanced load transfer from the softer matrix to the stiffer particles, an increase in particle volume fraction and a decrease in particle size lead to a significant increase in fatigue strength [4,5,6,7,21]. Larger particles provide a minor resistance against particle failure [4,15,25] and fatigue cracks initiate preferably at them due Metals 2018, 8, 43; doi:10.3390/met8010043 www.mdpi.com/journal/metals
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