Ultrasonic and microscopic studies of aluminum matrix composite reinforced with hollow ceramic microspheres

Solving the problem of operational nondestructive evaluation of cast aluminum matrix composites is of great practical importance for improving their production technology. The purpose of the work is ultrasonic and microscopic studies of a promising aluminum matrix composite obtained by casting with mechanical mixing of reinforcing hollow ceramic microspheres. Optical and scanning electron microscopy, hydrostatic weighing, and ultrasonic echo method were used to study specimens with different volume fractions of pores and reinforcing microspheres. It is shown that saturation of aluminum matrix with reinforcing hollow microspheres consisting mainly of aluminum oxide makes it possible to obtain the composite less dense than the initial alloy. The main characteristic of the composite structure affecting its properties is the total volume fraction of micropores and reinforcing microspheres. It was found that in the studied specimens, the heterogeneity of the distribution and the average size of the pores and reinforcing microspheres do not affect the propagation velocities of ultrasonic waves and elastic properties. The density, ultrasonic wave velocities, Young’s modulus, and Poisson’s ratio decrease monotonously with an increase in the total volume fraction of micropores and hollow microspheres. It is concluded that the Poisson’s ratio can be used as an informative parameter for rapid quality control of the composite. The results obtained can be used to improve the technique of nondestructive quality control of produced aluminum matrix composites reinforced with hollow ceramic microspheres.

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