Microstructure, Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Behavior of As-Extruded PM Sicp/Al-Mg-Cu-Sn Composites

SiC particle reinforced powder metallurgy (PM) Al-Mg-Cu-Sn matrix composites were fabricated by hot-press sintering and hot extrusion. The effects of solution treatment temperature and SiC particle content on the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of the composites were studied using scanning electron microscopy, Vickers hardness testing, tensile testing and electrochemical experiments. The results show that increasing SiC particle content improves the tensile strength of the Al-Mg-Cu-Sn matrix composites between room temperature and cryogenic temperature. The yield strength of Al-Mg-Cu-Sn composite with 10 vol.% SiC particle content between at 293 K and 77 K increases from 63 MPa to 276 MPa and 106 MPa to 327 MPa, respectively. The solution treatment temperature distinctly affects the Vickers hardness of the SiCp/Al-Mg-Cu-Sn composites. The maximum Vickers hardness of the 10 vol.% SiCp/Al-Mg-Cu-Sn composite is 92 HV after solution treatment at 773 K followed by ageing. The corrosion behavior of Al-Mg-Cu-Sn matrix composites is affected by both the SiC particle content and solution treatment temperature