Effect of the Heat Treatment Process on the Properties of SiC_p/AL Composites

Abstract—In this study, the effects of different treatments (annealing, solid solution and Solution + aging) on the bending and thermal conductivity of SiC_p/Al composites fabricated by the pressure infiltration method were investigated. The fracture form of the composites was indicated to be characteristic brittle fracture with local ductile fracture. The bending strength of the composites was 674 MPa with Solution + aging, which is 57% higher than that in the as-cast condition. The microhardnesses of the composites increased after heat treatment, resulting in the maximum microhardness 276 HV with Solution + aging. By calculating the thermal conductivity of the composites, the order was determined to be cast < annealed < solid solution < solution + aging, and the thermal conductivity with solution + aging treatment reached 182 m^–1 K^–1, which is higher than 153 m^–1 K^–1 in the as-cast condition.