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.