An investigation on underwater shock consolidated carbon fiber reinforced Al composites

Aluminum based metal matrix composites (MMCs) have wider applications. The conventional processing techniques to produce composites, however, are expensive and the excrescent reaction products are mostly detrimental, and sometimes beneficial , to the composites. High explosive (detonation velocity: 6.9 km/s) underwater shock waves were utilized to consolidate carbon fiber reinforced aluminum composites. Hand-mixing and ball-mill mixing were employed to blend the powder–reinforcement mixture. Two different configurational aluminum powders – flaky and irregular – were used. The densification and interparticle bonding mechanisms that occur in <10 μs are discussed. The effect of shock consolidation on void reduction, pore closure and particle flow are reported.