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Use of light and scanning electron microscope techniques to monitor microstructural changes in aluminium‐based metal matrix composites
Author(s) -
WHITEHOUSE A. F.,
SHAHANI R. A.,
CLYNE T. W.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1995.tb03599.x
Subject(s) - materials science , scanning electron microscope , optical microscope , aluminium , composite material , microstructure , aluminium oxide , extrusion , oxide , recrystallization (geology) , metallurgy , anodizing , microscopy , metallography , optics , paleontology , physics , biology
SUMMARY Microstructural developments in discontinuously reinforced aluminium composites have been monitored during a variety of thermo‐mechanical treatments. The material, made by powder blending or casting, followed by extrusion, contains particulate or short‐fibre alumina in a matrix of commercial purity aluminium. Attention is centred on the distribution of reinforcement, the fine alumina particles derived from the prior oxide layers on the aluminium powder, and the effects that these inclusions have on cavitation, recovery and recrystallization processes. Optical metallography, by viewing anodized sections in polarized light, is used to reveal grain and coarse subgrain structures. Scanning electron microscopy has also been employed to reveal fine oxide stringers, cavities and (in backscattered mode) fine subgrain structures. The emphasis in this paper is on the type of information that can be obtained for these materials from careful application of standard microscopy techniques.