Aging Behavior of High Volume Fraction SiC Particles Reinforced 2024Al Composite

2024 Al matrix composite reinforced by SiC particles with 45% volume fraction and 1 μm diameter was successfully fabricated by squeeze-exhaust casting method. The aging behavior of SiCp/2024Al composite at four temperatures was investigated and compared to 2024 alloy. It was found that the addition of high volume fraction SiC particles does not alter the aging sequence, but it significantly accelerates the kinetics of precipitation in the composite matrices.Therefore, the aging peak of the composite appears earlier than that of 2024Al alloy. This is attributed to the decrease in the activation energy for the precipitate formation and the increase in the precipitate growth rate due to the high density dislocations in the composite with high volume fraction particles. The high density dislocations, as preferential nucleation sites for precipitates, bring about the tiny and dense precipitates in the composite.