High Temperature Deformation Behavior of SiCp/2124Al Metal Matrix Composites

The high temperature deformation behavior of SiCp/2124Al composite and 2124Al alloy was investigated by hot compression test in a temperature ranged $400~475^{\circ}C$ over a strain rate ranged $10^{-3}~1s^{-1}$. The billets of 2124Al alloy and SiCp/2124Al composite were fabricated by vacuum hot pressing process. The stress-strain curve during high temperature deformation exhibited a peak stress, and then the flow stress decreased gradually into a steady state stress with increasing the strain. It was found that the flow-softening behavior was attributed to the dynamic recovery, local dynamic recrystallization and dynamic precipitation during the deformation. The precipitation phases were identified as S' and S by TEM diffraction pattern. Base on the TEM inspection, the relationship between the Z-H parameter and subgrain size was found based on the experiment data. The dependence of flow stress on temperature and strain rate could be formulated well by a hyperbolic-sinusoidal relationship using the Zener-Hollomon parameter.