Indentation Plastometry of Particulate Metal Matrix Composites, Highlighting Effects of Microstructural Scale

Herein, it is concerned with the use of profilometry‐based indentation plastometry (PIP) to obtain mechanical property information for particulate metal matrix composites (MMCs). This type of test, together with conventional uniaxial testing, has been applied to four different MMCs (produced with various particulate contents and processing conditions). It is shown that reliable stress–strain curves can be obtained using PIP, although the possibility of premature (prenecking) fracture should be noted. Close attention is paid to scale effects. As a consequence of variations in local spatial distributions of particulate, the “representative volume” of these materials can be relatively large. This can lead to a certain amount of scatter in PIP profiles and it is advisable to carry out a number of repeat PIP tests in order to obtain macroscopic properties. Nevertheless, it is shown that PIP testing can reliably detect the relatively minor (macroscopic) anisotropy exhibited by forged materials of this type. Profilometry‐based indentation plastometry (PIP) is applied here to obtain information about the detailed mechanical properties of four different particulate metal matrix composites. PIP‐derived stress–strain curves are in good agreement with those from uniaxial testing. Furthermore, deductions are made about anisotropy and inhomogeneity characteristics that would not be obtainable using conventional techniques.