Effect of Temperature on Toughness and Creep Behaviors of SiCp Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composite and Its Weldment

As transport aircraft technology has progressed from subsonic to supersonic and now toward hypersonic applications, the demand for low-cost, lightweight, and high-strength materials for complex structural components has prompted the development of particulate-reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs). Despite extensive room temperature evaluations of these MMCs, the toughness, creep, and welding properties of such materials when placed under high-temperature conditions have received little attention. In this paper, the effects of temperature on the tensile properties, fracture toughness, and related creep behaviors of a silicon carbide particulate reinforced 2124-T6 aluminum alloy matrix composite (SiC_p/Al 2124-T6 MMC) are evaluated. To carry out this testing, variations in this material's mechanical properties, residual stresses and microstructure near welded joints and crack tips originating from machined notches were investigated.