Effect of aging on interface characteristics of Al-Mg-Si/SiC composites

The interface characteristics of Al-Mg-Si/SiC composites from the supersaturated to peak-aged time state are investigated mainly by electron microscopy including scanning transmission electron microscopy ( STEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The experimental results show that MgO is the main interfacial reaction product at the beginning of aging. At the peak-aged time, the content level of Mg in matrix is decreased due to the precipitation of Mg2Si precipitate during aging, resulting in the formation of a MgAl2O4 phase which becomes the main reaction product at the SiC/Al interface, and these MgAl2O4 nanoparticles can improve the bonding strength of interface. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.