THE TENSILE STRENGTH AND FRACTURE MODE OF δ-ALUMINA SHORT FIBRE REINFORCED ALUMINIUM ALLOYS

The metal matrix composites based on a series of aluminium alloys and " Saffil" short fibre preforms were manufactured with the squeeze casting technique. The volume fraction of fibres in preforms was in the range from 8% to 20%. optical microscopy analysis indicated that fibres appearedto be two-dimentional randomly oriented. The values of ultimate tensile strergth (UTS) of the matrix and the composites were measured at room temperature and at 300℃. The failure procedure andfracture sudece were investigated by the scanning electron microscopy. Based on the analysis of fracture morphology and fracture mode, the equations for prediction of UTS of the composites were put fotward.