Laminated nanostructure composites with improved bend ductility and toughness

Atomized amorphous Al89Ni3Gd7Fe1 powders were extruded inside an aluminum can to create a composite with nanosized inter-metallic particles in a nominally pure Al matrix, surrounded by the aluminum can. The extruded rods were machined into beams to produce either bi- or trilayer laminates containing the nanocomposite and the aluminum layer(s). The bend ductility and fracture toughness of the laminates were obtained in both crack divider and crack arrester orientations, and were compared to the fracture behavior of the nanostructured composite. (C) 2009 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.