Tensile and Fracture Properties of 15 vol% SiCp/2009Al Composites Fabricated by Hot Isostatic Pressing and Hot Extrusion Processes

15 vol% silicon carbide particle (SiCp)-reinforced 2009Al matrix (15 vol% SiCp/2009Al) composites were fabricated by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and hot extrusion processes. The tensile and fracture properties of 15 vol% SiCp/2009Al were studied. The results showed that hot extrusion increased the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), elongation (EL), reduction in area (RA), and fracture toughness of the composites. The heat treatment resulted in the increase in UTS, YS, and fracture toughness, but a decrease in EL and RA. Both hot extrusion and heat treatment had negligible effects on elastic modulus (E). With the increase of SiCp size the UTS, YS, and E decreased, but the EL and RA P increased. The fracture toughness increased first and then decreased with increasing SiCp size, and when the SiCp size was about 7 mu m, the composites obtained the maximum fracture toughness value of 31.74 MPa m(1/2).