Reinforcement Size Dependence of Load Bearing Capacity in Ultrafine-Grained Metal Matrix Composites

The length-scale effects on the load bearing capacity of reinforcement particles in an ultrafine-grained metal matrix composite (MMC) were studied, paying particular attention to the nanoscale effects. We observed that the nanoparticles provide the MMCs with a higher strength but a lower stiffness compared to equivalent materials reinforced with submicron particles. The reduction in stiffness is attributed to ineffective load transfer of the local stresses to the small and equiaxed nanoparticles.