Vickers Microhardness Studies on B<inf>4</inf>C Reinforced/Unreinforced Foamable Aluminium Composites

Abstract

In this work we have investigated the effects of production processes on the structural and mechanical properties of B4C reinforced/unreinforced foamable aluminium composite materials. All samples were produced with the powder metallurgy method. The production method included compression, extrusion and rolling processes. The Vickers microhardness test was applied to determine the mechanical properties of the samples. Vickers microhardness, elastic modulus and yield strength values of the samples were separately calculated and compared with each other. The experimental microhardness results were analysed using Meyer’s law, the proportional sample resistance model, the elastic–plastic deformation model and the Hays Kendall (HK) approach. The results determined that the HK approach was the most suitable model among the other applied microhardness models.