Reactive diffusion bonding of SiCp/Al composites by insert layers of mixed Al-Si and Al-Si-SiC powders

Mixed Al-Si and Al-Si-SiC powders were employed as insert layers to reactive diffusion bond SiCp/6063 MMC (metal matrix composites). The results show that SiCp/6063 MMC joints bonded by the insert layer of the mixed Al-Si powder have a dense joining layer with a typical hypoeutectic microstructure. Using the mixed Al-Si-SiC powder as the insert layer, SiCp/6063 MMC can be reactive diffusion bonded by a composite joint. Because of the SiC segregation, however, there are a number of porous zones in the joining layer, which results in the bad shear strength of the joints reactive diffusion bonded by the insert layer of the mixed Al-Si-SiC powder, even lower than that of the joints reactive diffusion bonded by the insert layer of the mixed Al-Si powder. Ti and Mg added in the insert layers obviously improve the strength of the joints reactive diffusion bonded by the insert layer of the mixed Al-Si-SiC powder, especially, Mg has a more obvious effect.