Al-SiCp composites by underwater shock compression

Industrial pure aluminum powders (Al) reinforced with fine silicon carbide particles (SiCp) were compacted using shock compression technique. The present investigation employed under-water shock waves generated from the detonation of a high explosive. Under moderate shock pressure, a highly densified crack-free bulk sample was successfully recovered. The microstructure showed two areas composed of pure aluminum and mechanically mixed Al+SiCp layer which reflects the condition of original blending. The Al+SiCp region is composed of finely dispersed SiCp particles in aluminum matrix, and the micro-structural analysis on the composite reveals traces of Al-SiCp reaction products at the Al+SiCp region. The composite reveal high hardness and high bending strength in comparison with pure aluminum powder. It is interesting to note that the composite shows diminutive, yet significant, plastic deformation through bending test.