Enhancing the tensile modulus and strength of an aluminum alloy using interconnected reinforcement methodology

In this study, 2.5-vol.% of interconnected fibers in the form of three-dimensional preforms was used to reinforce an aluminum alloy. The materials were synthesized using conventional casting followed by hot extrusion. The extruded materials were characterized for their microstructural thermal and mechanical properties. Microstructural characterization revealed fairly good interfacial integrity between the reinforcement wire and the matrix. Thermomechanical analysis of the composites showed that use of interconnected wire performs as reinforcement decreased the average coefficient of thermal expansion of the aluminum matrix. The results of mechanical properties characterizations revealed an increase in hardness, elastic modulus and strength in case of reinforced aluminum with elastic modulus convincingly exceeding rule of mixture (ROM) prediction.