Diagnostics of the properties of an experimental aluminum matrix cast composite material

Composite materials based on aluminum are widely used in various industries for the manufacture of parts and structural elements. The paper presents the results of diagnostics of the properties of experimental disperse-hardened composite materials (DUCM) based on aluminum obtained by the «internal oxidation method». The interrelated mechanical and technological properties of composites were studied with the identification of a correlation between the parameters of vibroacoustic emission (VAE) and the dynamic method of processing materials in different structural and phase states. Five batches of DUCM castings made using various modes of synthesis of solid phase inclusions in the material matrix were analyzed. The methods and test results for determining the microstructure, chemical composition, hardness of workpieces, dynamic components and the VAE signal during their processing are presented. Differences in the chemical composition of castings have been established by energy and wave dispersion spectrometry. The relationship between the percentage of alloying elements in alloys and the hardness of the workpiece material has not been revealed. At the same time, samples of different melts showed different values of microhardness. The difference in the microhardness of the workpiece materials has little effect on the cutting force and, consequently, on the generated VAE signals. The dependence between the change in the parameter of the VAE signal (RMS value) and the parameter of the processing mode — the cutting speed is established. It is shown that the RMS value of the VAE signal, as an informative parameter, allows us to adequately assess the change in the turning speed of blanks made of DUCM, at which a decrease in the components of the cutting force is observed and the required roughness of the treated surface is achieved. The obtained results can be used to determine the optimal cutting speeds, providing a lower value of the components of the cutting force and a given roughness of the treated surface.