Fabrication of Al/Al3Mg2 composite by vacuum annealing and accumulative roll-bonding process

Al3Mg2 produced by the reaction between 1060-Al plates and AZ31-Mg foil was introduced homogeneously in the 1060-Al matrix during an accumulative roll-bonding (ARB) process. A type of aluminum metal matrix composite (AMMC) called intermetallic compound-reinforced AMMC was manufactured. Investigations regarding the hardness and tensile properties of the composites showed that the Vickers microhardness, tensile strength, and elongation of the Al/Al3Mg2 composites increased with the number of ARB cycles. Compared with the annealed and ARB monolithic 1060-Al, the Al/Al3Mg2 composites showed excellent mechanical properties and low density after the sixth ARB cycle. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.