The deformation of particle reinforced metal matrix composites during temperature cycling

Superplasticity during temperature cycling of particle reinforced metal matrix composites has been studied over a range of reinforcement sizes and volume fractions. Above a critical volume and thermal cycle amplitude, the mean strain per cycle is proportional to stress and approximately proportional to cycle amplitude. For a given thermal cycle the constant of proportionality with respect to stress increases with reinforcement fraction to a maximum at around 30%; it then decreases with further increase in reinforcement. Transmission electron microscopy revealed no characteristics dislocation substructure; even after 90% strain the material was indistinguishable from its undeformed state. The experimental results confirm an internal plastic flow model for the phenomenon rather than an enhanced creep. A model of the process derived from the Lévy-Von Mises equations predicts both the effect of thermal cycle amplitude the MMC microstructure on the enhanced creep rate. © 1990