THE FABRICATION OF BORON-CARBIDE ALUMINUM COMPOSITES BY EXPLOSIVE CONSOLIDATION

The technique of explosive consolidation was used to prepare cermets o f boron carbide with aluminium and 7075 aluminium alloy. Compacts were produced by application of 10-12 GPa pressure which was induced by ex plosive detonation. The compacts obtained exhibit high hardness-increa sing with an increase in the boron-carbide content, integrity and clos e to theorical density. Hardness, fracture toughness and flexural stre ngths of the composites produced indicate extensive shock hardening of the metal (or alloy) matrix during consolidation. (C) 1997 Elsevier S cience Limited and Techna S.r.l.