Influence of thinner flaked Al powder with larger diameter on the distribution of B₄C particles and tensile properties of B₄C/Al composite

Abstract The thinner flaked Al powders are used to improve the strength of the B 4 C/Al composite. The effect of the flaked Al powder on distribution of B 4 C particles is investigated. The tensile properties of the B 4 C/Al composites with the flaked Al powders are also studied. The results show that during ball milling process, spherical Al powders are flaked with the thinner thicknesses and larger diameters. The thinner flaked Al powders are not easy to be deformed and are bonded together as the laminated structure after thermal compression. B 4 C particles are evenly dispersed and embedded in Al laminated structure. With increasing the volume fraction of B 4 C particles, the deformation of the thinner flaked Al powders become difficult and the thinner flaked Al powders coat on the surface of B 4 C particles, resulting in the disappearance of the laminated structure of the thinner flaked Al powder.