Fracture of Particles in a Particle/Metal Matrix Composite under Plastic Straining and Its Effect on the Young’s Modulus of the Composite

Abstract

Fracture of Al₂O₃ particles in an Al₂O₃ particle/ aluminum alloy metal matrix composite (MMC) under plastic straining was observed by in-situ tensile testing in a scanning electron microscope. The fracture of larger sized particles was found to be preferred to that of smaller sized ones for a given plastic strain. The Young’s modulus (E_c) of plastically strained MMC was reduced with increase in plastic strain (ε_p). The analytical model based on Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion method was constructed to explain the relationship between E_c and ε_p, resulting in a good agreement with the experimental results.