Effect of deformation and ceramic reinforcement on work hardening behaviour of hot extruded 2124 Al-SiCp metal matrix composites

Work hardening behaviour of discontinuously reinforced metal matrix composi tes (MMCs) is a complex phenomenon as compared to monolithic materials and is still not explicitly understood. Under the present investigation, the ef fect of deformation and reinforcement content on work hardening behaviour o f extruded 2124 Al/SiCp MMCs has been reported. These MMC extruded rods hav ing 10%, 15% and 20% volume fraction of SiCp and extruded at 9:1, 36:1 and 56:1 extrusion ratios (ERs) were used. Work hardening rates were calculated from true stress-strain data obtained from tensile testing results of thes e MMCs. The variation in work hardening rates was correlated with the varia tion of SiCp content and deformation (i.e., ER). Fracture strains were esti mated using a model and correlated with the experimentally measured values. Morphology of fractured surfaces was examined to elucidate the different m icrostructural features induced during testing and their correlation with e longation.