Effects of hot extrusion and rolling on the tensile strength of SiC whisker reinforced aluminum alloy composites

SiC whisker/Al composites fabricated by high pressure infiltration were extruded and rolled at high temperatures. The length and orientation of whiskers in the hot worked composites were measured. A relationship between the strength and working ratio of the composites was discussed. Tensile properties of extruded composites greatly depend on the whisker orientation and decrease at lower extruding temperatures because of shortening of whiskers during extrusion. The elastic modulus of SiCw/6061 composites is expressed as E=255Vf+72 (GPa) As the extruded flat bars are cross-rolled, the whisker orientation turns at greater rolling reductions resulting in moderating anisotropies in structure and tensile strength.