The most complex issue related to the design of high efficiency composite materials is the behavior of the reinforcing component during the bonding process. This study presents numerical and experimental investigations of the shape change in the reinforcing inlay in an aluminum-steel mesh-aluminum composite during roll-bonding. A flat composite material consisting of two outer strips of an EN AW 1050 alloy and an inlay of expanded C10 steel mesh was obtained via hot roll bonding with nominal rolling reductions of 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% at a temperature of 500 °C. The experimental procedure was carried out using two separate rolling mills with diameters equal to 135 and 200 mm, respectively. A computer simulation of the roll bonding was performed using the finite element software QForm 9.0.10 by Micas Simulations Limited, Oxford, UK. The distortion of the mesh evaluated via the change in angle between its strands was described using computer tomography scanning. The dependence of the absorbed impact energy of the roll bonded composite on the parameters of the deformation zone was found. The results of the numerical simulation of the steel mesh shape change during roll bonding concur with the data from micro-CT scans of the composites. The diameter of rolls applied during the roll bonding, along with rolling reduction and temperature, have an influence on the resulting mechanical properties, i.e., the absorbed bending energy. Generally, the composites with reinforcement exhibit up to 20% higher impact energy in comparison with the non-reinforced composites.
Strength-conductivity synergy in cold-drawn reduced graphene oxide (RGO)-aluminum composite wires for electrical applications
