Exploration of Al-based matrix composites reinforced by hierarchically spherical agents

Al-based composites reinforced with Al-Ti intermetallic compounds/Ti metal hierarchically spherical agents were successfully fabricated by powder metallurgy. This kind of structure produces strongly bonded interfaces as well as soft/hard/soft transition regions between the matrix and reinforced agents, which are beneficial to load transfer during deformation. As expected, the resultant composites exhibit promising mechanical properties at ambient temperature. The underlying mechanism was also discussed in this paper.