Effect of rolling reduction and heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al1060/Al6061-0.5SiC/Al1060 laminates

Abstract Sandwich type Al1060/Al6061-0.5SiC/Al1060 laminates were fabricated by hot roll bonding and then subjected to heat treatment. The microstructure, texture and mechanical properties of the laminates were investigated. The inhomogeneity of microstructure throughout the thickness of 1060 Al layer was present in the as-rolled laminates. After heat treatment, the Al6061-0.5SiC composite layer was in a partially recrystallized condition. Some grains were subdivided by low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs), and the fraction of LAGBs increased with increasing rolling reduction. The amount of Mg2Si precipitates increased with increasing rolling reduction. The Al6061-0.5SiC composite was characterized by the α fiber and β fiber after hot rolling. After heat treatment, the texture in Al6061-0.5SiC composite was dominated by Goss and R component. The tensile strength of the as-rolled laminates increased with increasing rolling reduction, while the elongation first increased and then decreased. The heat treatment could effectively improve the tensile properties of the Al1060/Al6061-0.5SiC/Al1060 laminates.