Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of SiC Particle Reinforced AlMgScZr Composites by Selective Laser Melting

doi:10.12141/j.issn.1000-565X.240108

Abstract

Abstract:

Aluminum matrix composites have the characteristics of high hardness and difficult machining. In order to achieve near-net forming of aluminum matrix composites with high specific strength and high specific modulus, micron SiC particles with volume fraction of 10% reinforced AlMgScZr composites were fabricated using selective laser melting (SLM) technique. The relationship between the laser energy density and scanning rate and the forming quality of the composite was established. The microstructure and mechanical properties were characterized and tested by optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and universal testing machine. The effect of micron SiC particles on the solidification structure and mechanical properties of SLMed aluminum matrix composites was investigated. The results show that the best quality composite could be obtained under the conditions of layer thickness of 30 μm, scanning spacing of 0.12 mm, laser power of 260 W, scanning rate of 1 000 mm/s, and its relative density was up to 99.81%. During the laser cladding process, there was a strong interfacial reaction between SiC particles and Al matrix. Micron-sized acicular Al₄SiC₄ bands were formed in situ, and the sharp corners of SiC particles are obviously passivated. Al₄SiC₄ bands and the residual SiC particles formed a mixed reinforced structure. The optimal tensile strength, elongation and elastic modulus of aged SiC/AlMgScZr composites were 379 MPa, 12% and 84 GPa, respectively. The fracture behavior of the composites included ductile fracture of Al matrix and brittle cleavage fracture of Al₄SiC₄ phases. A large number of cross-distributed acicular Al₄SiC₄ bands were the main factors leading to premature failure and fracture of SiC/AlMgScZr composites.

Key words: selective laser melting, aluminum matrix composite, process parameter, interfacial reaction, fracture behavior 责任编辑：张娜娜

CLC Number:

TG146.2

MA Guonan, ZHANG Le, OU Yang, SHI Lijun, LU Renyi, CHENG Yingye, CHEN Yue. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of SiC Particle Reinforced AlMgScZr Composites by Selective Laser Melting[J]. Journal of South China University of Technology(Natural Science Edition), 2025, 53(1): 118-128.

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试样	激光功率/W	扫描速率/（mm·s^-1）	能量密度/（J·mm^-3）		激光功率/W	扫描速率/（mm·s^-1）	能量密度/（J∙mm^-3）
1^#	240	400	166.7	19^#	300	400	208.3
2^#	240	600	111.1	20^#	300	600	138.9
3^#	240	800	83.3	21^#	300	800	104.2
4^#	240	1 000	66.7	22^#	300	1 000	83.3
5^#	240	1 200	55.6	23^#	300	1 200	69.4
6^#	240	1 400	47.6	24^#	300	1 400	59.5
7^#	260	400	180.6	25^#	320	400	222.2
8^#	260	600	120.4	26^#	320	600	148.2
9^#	260	800	90.3	27^#	320	800	111.1
10^#	260	1 000	72.2	28^#	320	1 000	88.9
11^#	260	1 200	60.2	29^#	320	1 200	74.1
12^#	260	1 400	51.6	30^#	320	1 400	63.5
13^#	280	400	194.4	31^#	340	400	236.1
14^#	280	600	129.6	32^#	340	600	157.4
15^#	280	800	97.2	33^#	340	800	118.1
16^#	280	1 000	77.8	34^#	340	1 000	94.4
17^#	280	1 200	64.8	35^#	340	1 200	78.7
18^#	280	1 400	55.6	36^#	340	1 400	67.5

试样	密度/（g·cm^-3）	致密度/%		密度/（g·cm^-3）	致密度/%
1^#	2.698 6	99.80	19^#	2.632 1	97.34
2^#	2.698 0	99.78	20^#	2.660 4	98.39
3^#	2.694 0	99.63	21^#	2.676 0	98.96
4^#	2.691 7	99.55	22^#	2.691 3	99.53
5^#	2.664 6	98.54	23^#	2.694 9	99.66
6^#	2.635 0	97.45	24^#	2.687 8	99.40
7^#	2.689 3	99.46	25^#	2.584 1	95.57
8^#	2.693 9	99.63	26^#	2.637 2	97.53
9^#	2.691 7	99.55	27^#	2.665 1	98.56
10^#	2.698 9	99.81	28^#	2.678 8	99.07
11^#	2.687 4	99.39	29^#	2.677 0	99.00
12^#	2.667 5	98.65	30^#	2.682 5	99.20
13^#	2.664 7	98.55	31^#	2.496 2	92.32
14^#	2.677 9	99.03	32^#	2.554 2	94.46
15^#	2.682 5	99.20	33^#	2.604 4	96.32
16^#	2.686 6	99.36	34^#	2.635 9	97.48
17^#	2.693 8	99.62	35^#	2.656 3	98.24
18^#	2.687 2	99.38	36^#	2.670 5	98.76

化学元素	质量分数/%	原子分数/%
总计	100.00	100.00
C	14.89	22.93
Mg	1.08	1.09
Al	72.61	66.29
Si	10.42	9.14
Sc	0.99	0.54

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