EFFECT OF PRECIPITATION ON THE BULK HARDNESS AND THE ULTIMATE TENSILE-STRENGTH OF A 6061 SIC COMPOSITE/

In the present study, 6061/SiC composite synthesized using the liquid metallurgy route was heat treated using four different heat treatment cycles. The heat treatment cycles were selected so as to change charac teristics and the extent of precipitation in the metallic matrix. Supe rficial Rockwell hardness measurements and tensile testing conducted o n all the four sets of differently heat treated samples revealed a lin ear correlationship. The results were rationalized placing particular emphasis on the microstructural events associated with the motion of d islocations and the magnitude of the resistance to the motion of dislo cations under variably precipitation hardened composite matrix.