Fabrication and characterization of aluminium-copper composites

Work has been carried out to study the effect of alloying element dispersion in the base metal by using composite fabrication technique. Al-Cu composites (5-15 wt%) are prepared by stir cast method by dispersing copper powder (filings) in molten aluminium. Results are compared with the alloy having same composition. Composite metals with 5, 10, 15% by weight were also compared. Deformation and recrystallization studies show better hardness properties with the composites compared to the alloy at recrystallization temperatures. Increasing alloy contents with the composites show enhanced ageing kinetics. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.