Using warm accumulative roll bonding method to produce Al-Al2O3 metal matrix composite

In this study, warm accumulative roll bonding process has been used to produce metal matrix composite (Al/1% Al2O3). The microstructure and mechanical properties of composites have been studied after different warm accumulative roll bonding cycles by tensile test, Vickers micro-hardness test and scanning electron microscopy. The scanning electron microscopy results reveal that during higher warm accumulative roll bonding cycles, the layers of alumina particles are broken. It leads to the generation of elongated dense clusters with smaller sizes. This microstructure evolution leads to improve the hardness, strength and elongation during the accumulative roll bonding process. The results demonstrated that the dispersed alumina clusters improve both the strength and toughness of the composites. Also, an extra pass of cold rolling on the final warm accumulative roll bonding product shows the ability to obtain further strength. In general, warm accumulative roll bonding process would allow fabricating metal particle reinforced with high uniformity, good mechanical properties and high bonding strength.