IMPROVEMENT OF THE MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF 2124-AL SICP MMC PLATE BYOPTIMIZATION OF THE SOLUTION TREATMENT/

Static mechanical properties of 2124 Al/SiCp MMC have been measured as a function of solution temperature and time. An optimum solution trea tment has been established which produces significant improvements in static mechanical properties and fatigue crack growth resistance over conventional solution treatments. Increasing the solution treatment pa rameters up to the optimum values improves the mechanical properties b ecause of intermetallic dissolution, improved solute and GPB zone stre ngthening and increased matrix dislocation density. Increasing the sol ution treatment parameters beyond the optimum values results in a rapi d reduction in mechanical properties due to the formation of gas poros ity and surface blisters. The optimum solution treatment improves tens ile properties in the transverse orientation to a greater extent than in the longitudinal orientation and this results in reduced anisotropy . (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited