Hot deformation and processing maps of a particulate reinforced 2618/Al2O3/20p metal matrix composite

Abstract The mechanical response of a AA2618 aluminium based metal matrix composite was investigated by means of hot compression tests. The flow stress curves were obtained in the temperature and strain rate ranges of 350–500 °C and 1–10 −3 s −1 , respectively in order to obtain the processing and stability maps of the studied material following the Dynamic Material Model. All the zones of flow instability were studied through optical and electronic microscopy. The observations were performed in order to describe the behaviour of the material under hot forming operations in terms of material damage and microstructural modifications.