Application of the nanoindentation for the determination of the interfacial mechanical properties in aluminium matrix composites

Abstract

Present paper studies tbe application of a new mechanical test technique such us the nanoindention to determine the mechanical behaviour of the matrix-reinforcement interfaces present in the aluminium matrix composites. Tested composites were AA6061 reinforced with SiC particles and with carbon short fibres. Both kind of composites were manufactured using melting conditions which produced a high interaction between the molten aluminium matrix and the reactive reinforcements. To control the interface reactivity, different coating treatments were applied on both type of reinforcements (SiO₂ by sohgel methods on the SiC particles and Cu by electroless on the carbon fibres). The characterization was carried out using a Nanoindenter XP, applying loads in the range of 0,5 to 150 mN with a Berkovich indenter. The residual impressions on the specimens surfaces were observed by SEM. The variation of elastic modulus and hardness through the interface and the failure mechanisms were obtained from the study of the load-displacements curves.