Investigation of annealing treatment on the interfacial and mechanical properties of Al5052/Cu multilayered composites subjected to ARB process

Abstract This research aims to discuss the effect of annealing time and temperature on the interfacial and mechanical properties in Al5052/Cu multilayer composites processed by accumulative roll bonding (ARB). According to the results of XRD and EDS, four intermetallic layers with the chemical composition of Cu9Al4-Cu4Al3-CuAl-Al2Cu were observed at the interface of processed composite with three ARB passes after annealing at 400°C for 90 min. The results of tensile properties in each specific ARB pass showed that at lower annealing temperatures and times, the recrystallization or recovery was dominant in mechanical properties, and the strength decreased, while at higher annealing temperature and time strength increased due to the thickening of intermetallic compounds. The maximum value of tensile strength (345 MPa) was obtained in the third pass at 400℃ for 90 min. Results of OM analysis on fracture surface by optic microscope of the composites annealed at 350℃ for 60 min demonstrated that from zero to the second pass the fracture path in the macroscopic state was perpendicular to the direction of stress. However, in the third and fourth passes, the macroscopic path of fracture is observed with an angle of 35°- 45° to the direction of tension, which is due to the formation of shear deformation zones. Also, SEM analysis of the third pass sample annealed at 400℃ for 60 min indicated that the fracture surface of the aluminum layer was ductile type but the copper layer was a knife-edge without dimples and holes.