FRACTURE-BEHAVIOR OF AL-ZN-MG SICP COMPOSITES

Al-Zn-Mg alloys reinforced with different volume fractions of SiC part iculates were prepared by a liquid-metallurgy technique. The mechanica l properties in uniaxial tension and compression were evaluated, and f ractographic observations were made on the fracture surfaces. The dist ribution of SiC was quite uniform in the extruded condition, and the m echanical-property data show that the composite properties were inferi or to those of the control alloy; they essentially showed a decreasing trend with increasing volume fractions. These observations can be exp lained in terms of the particle distribution, the porosity and the int erfacial characteristics.