Effect of temperature on the mechanical behaviour of a SiC particulate reinforced Al alloy

The tensile behaviour of a particulate SiC reinforced aluminum alloy has been investigated over a range of temperatures, and for two different heat treatments. The fracture mode depends on testing temperature, with a transition from void nucleation at cracked SiC particles at room temperature to void nucleation by decohesion of the particulate/matrix interface at high temperatures. The strengthening afforded by the particulates also varies with …