Processing map of Al2O3 particulate reinforced Al alloy matrix composites

The flow stress behavior of the nanometric Al2O3 particulate reinforced Al alloy matrix composites were investigated in the temperature range from 360 to 480 °C, with strain rates of 0.001–1 s−1 on Gleeble-1500 machine. The results show that the flow stress increases with increasing strain rate and decreasing temperature. The flow stress of this deformed composites shows a dynamic recovery character in the temperature range from 360 to 440 °C and in the strain rate range of 0.001–0.01 s−1, while that deformed at 480 °C shows dynamic recrystallization character. The processing map at the strain of 0.4 is obtained and exhibits three safe deformation domains: 360–400 °C at 0.001–0.01 s−1, 400–440 °C at 0.001–1 s−1, and 440–480 °C at 0.001–0.01 s−1. According to the processing map and microstructure observation, the optimum hot-working parameters are determined to be 480 °C/0.001 s−1.