Investigation of mechanical properties of particulated reinforced aluminum composite profiles produced by extrusion method

In this study, a series of axial crush tests were performed on aluminium-based 5-10-15-20% SiC and 5-10-15-20% B4C reinforced / unreinforced seamless pipe profiles to investigate the influence the deformation and tension mode and energy absorption capacity dictated by length/diameter (L/D) ratio. Experimental studies have started with the production of composite billets by the powder metallurgy method.Al powders and 5-10-15-20 % wgt. SiC particles and 5-10-15-20 % wgt. B4C were mixed for 30 min in a ball mixer. The mixture was compressed into uni-directionally under pressure of 600 MPa. Then, the obtained billets were extruded at a specially designed extruded mold at 550°C to produce profiles with a diameter of 12 mm and a wall thickness of 2 mm. Four different L/D ratios were determined to investigate the effect of the length/diameter (L/D) ratio on the crashworthiness of the profiles. To determine the crushing and tension behavior of these samples, the quasi-static compression tests were carried out at a speed of 3 mm/min and 1mm/dk accordingly, the deformation mode changed with increasing L/D ratio in both types of materials. The hardnesses, densities of the produced materials were measured, images were taken on optical and scanning electron (SEM) microscopes. The highest hardness values were obtained in samples containing 20% particles. The hardness values obtained for the samples containing B4C and SiC are 54,4 Hv and 49,5 Hv. In SiC-containing composite profiles, an increase in the maximum stress values was determined due to the increase in the particle content. In composite profiles containing B4C, there is an increase / decrease in the maximum stress values due to the increase in the particle content.Composite profiles containing B4C and SiC have been shown to decrease the amount of unit elongation due to increase in particle content.