ENHANCING TENSILE DUCTILITY OF A PARTICULATE-REINFORCED ALUMINUM METAL-MATRIX COMPOSITE BY LAMINATION WITH MG-9-PERCENT-LI ALLOY

A laminated metal composite has been made by press bonding alternating layers of a particulate-reinforced aluminum metal matrix composite (M MC), 6090/SiC/25p, and a highly ductile Mg-9%Li alloy. The mechanical properties including tensile ductility were evaluated for the 50-50 vo lume fraction laminated composite. The tensile yield strength of the c omposite obeyed the rule of averages in agreement with other laminates based on aluminum and ultrahigh carbon steel. Lamination of the Al MM C material is shown to increase the tensile ductility from 8.0% to 11. 5%. The ductility of the laminated composite was found to be limited b y interlayer reaction products developed during processing which led t o delamination. Thus necking of the MMC Al layers could occur leading to premature failure.