Abstract:The ultra high strength SiC particles (SiC_p) reinforced Al-10%Zn-3.6%Mg-1.8%Cu-0.36%Zr-0.15% Ni composite was prepared by spray co-deposition. Microstructures of the extruded and different heat-treated bars were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Grain size of the composites prepared by two-stage solution is smaller than that by single-stage solution. After single-stage solution aging treatment, fine precipitates of both η and AlZnMgCu-rich phase can be found both intragranularly and intergranularly. While after the two-stage solution, an amorphous Si-Cu-Al-O   (5 nm) layer appears at the interface. The addition of Ni and Zr modified the influence of the two-stage solution and inhibited the growth of the 7090/SiC_p composite grain size. Heat treatments can significantly improve the fracture toughness of the composite. The fracture toughness first decreases then increases with the elongation of the aging time.

Key words: Al matrix composite; spray co-deposition; heat treatment; solid solution; aging; microstructure; interface; fracture toughness