The Investigation of mechanical and metallurgical properties of multi-layered Al/Cu composite produced by Accumulative Press Bonding (APB) process

Accumulative press bonding (APB) process is one of the newest approaches of SPD processes in which the applying of strain in materials lead to the substantial plastic deformation and microscopic changes. In this study, APB method was used to production of Al/Cu composite and AA1100 and pure commercial Copper sheets used as matrix and reinforcement respectively. Microstructure evolutions samples proceeding by APB process were studied by Scan Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Optical Microscopy (OM). Mechanical characteristics were accomplished by conducting standard tensile and microhardness tests. The microscopic analysis indicates that as the number of APB passes increased, the reinforcement phase (Cu) dispersion be improved and result in Cu continues layers discrete in to shorter layers. As well, by increasing the number of APB passes up to 3 the ultimate strength, microhardness and elongation had been increased so that, the ultimate strength is raised to 375Mpa, it about 3.1 and 2.7 times is more than as Al and Cu respectively. Under the 3 cycles of APB, the hardness of Al and Cu were reached to 62 and 152.6 HV respectively which are 1.6 and 2.6 times greater than those of corresponding pure materials. Furthermore, SEM observations demonstrated the failure mode in Al/Cu composite proceeding by APB process is shear ductile rupture.