Investigation on relationship between mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of metal matrix composites fabricated by cold spraying technique

In this study, particulate-reinforced aluminum matrix composites were prepared by incorporation of 10 and 20 vol.% of copper. The metal matrix composite samples were fabricated using cold spray deposition technique. In general, the global properties of cold sprayed deposited materials are different from those of conventionally processed. This paper investigates mechanical properties of cold sprayed composites using available theoretical and experimental techniques. In order to determine the mechanical properties, both numerical simulation and analytical method were conducted. The microhardness and elastic modulus of Al-Cu cold spray coating were also determined using the Knoop hardness technique. Due to the different mechanical properties in transverse and longitudinal directions, the Knoop hardness was applied in both directions on the cross section of coatings. Image based numerical simulation was also performed on both transverse and longitudinal directions. Comparison between the results from the analytical models, experimental techniques, and numerical simulation helped us to better understand the influence of microstructural characteristic on the mechanical properties of cold spray deposited metal matrix composite. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.