Mechanical properties of sintered 7xxx series AI/SiCp composites

Abstract The sintering characteristics and mechanical properties of 7xxx series Al composite were investigated. AMB7775 (Al–7.0Zn–2.5Mg–1.0Cu) was used as a starting material, and SiC were added as dispersed particles to AMB7775 in order to confirm the effect of the ceramic particles on the Al matrix in composite materials. In the case of the SiC-reinforced AMB7775 composite, the density of the part sintered at 620 °C for 60 min with a heating rate of 100 °C/min increased up to 95.4%. After the aging treatment, the microhardness of the Al matrix in the SiC-reinforced AMB7775 composite was lower than that of the AMB7775 because the precipitation hardening behavior was affected by strains due to the difference in the thermal expansion coefficients of Al and SiC. The macrohardness and compressive strength of the SiC-reinforced AMB7775 composite was improved because of dispersion hardening by the SiC particles.