The powder-liquid-forging (PLF) process was employed to make SiC or Al
2O
3 particle/6061 aluminum alloy metal- matrix-composite (MMC). Since the aluminum alloy powder is enveloped by oxide layer, usual sintering is difficult. It becomes, however, possible to break the oxide film to sinter, when a powder compact is pressed above the melting point. This unique PLF technique has been found to be applicable to produce MMCs containing up to 30% of the reinforcement with high density. The Young's modulus and hardness of solution treated MMCs are monotoneously increased with an increase in the volume fraction of reinforcement of either SiC or Al
2O
3. The age-hardening decreases drastically in Al
2O
3/6061 MMC but a little in SiC/6061 one. This is because the spinel (MgAl
2O
4) formes in Al
2O
3/6061 MMCs during the PLF process, i. e., the loss of magnesium in the 6061 matrix is considered to lower age-hardening. Even in a SiC/6061 MMC in which such a reaction at the interface was not detected, the precipitation by the aging is suspected to occur very inhomogeneously. The tensile strength at room temperature is increased by adding the rein forcement particles. However, the tensile strengths of MMCs above 450K become to be approximately the same as those of the 6061 alloy prepared by the conventional ingot metallurgy.
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