Abstract
Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have a high strength-to-weight ratio, high stiffness, and good damage resistance under a wide range of operating conditions, making them a viable alternative to traditional materials in a variety of technical applications. Because of their high strength, composite materials are hard to deform to a significant depth at room temperature. As a result, additional treatments are required to enhance the composite's room ductility prior to deformation. In this investigation, as-received 6092Al/SiCp composite sheets (T6-condition) are heat treated to O-condition annealing to enhance its ductility in order to assess the influence of single point incremental forming (SPIF) parameters on the formability and fracture behavior of the Al/SiC particle composite sheets at room temperature. Then the annealed sheets are heat treated to T6-condition to enhance the strength and achieve properties equivalent to as-received sheets properties. The results demonstrate that the Al/SiC particle composite sheets with T6 treatment could not be deformed to the specified depth at room temperature due to low room ductility and that further treatment, such as O-condition annealing, is required to enhance the room ductility. When annealed Al/SiCp composite sheets are heat treated to T6, the sheets exhibit properties comparable to the as-received sheets. Al/SiC particle composite sheets with low SPIF parameters may have greater formability and fracture depth with low strain hardening curve.