Internal load transfer and damage evolution in a 3D interpenetrating metal/ceramic composite

The internal load transfer and compressive damage evolution in an interpenetrating Al2O3/AlSi12 composite have been studied in this work. The composite was fabricated by squeeze-casting eutectic aluminium-silicon alloy melt in a porous alumina preform. The preform was fabricated from a mixture of cellulose fibres and alumina particles via cold pressing and sintering. In an earlier work we reported the internal load transfer in the same composite material under monotonic compression and tension studied using energy dispersive synchrotron X-ray diffraction [20]. The current work is a continuation of this earlier study, aimed at obtaining further understanding about load transfer occurring during load reversal and damage behaviour during external compression. The micromechanical load partitioning between the three phases present in the composite is studied during one load cycle starting in compression followed by unloading and reloading in tension until failure. Average strain and stress value in each phase is calculated from several diffraction planes of each phase and as a result the reported strain and stress are representative of the bulk material behaviour. The load transfer results allow identifying the occurrence of a substantial Bauschinger effect in the Al solid solution phase and progressive damage evolution within the alumina phase. In situ compression test inside a scanning electron microscope showed that failure of the composite occurred by propagation of cracks through the ceramic rich regions, oriented at approximately 45 degrees to the loading direction. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.