Influence of SiC whisker on planar slip in Al-Li based alloys

The tensile deformation microstructure characteristics of silicon carbide whisker (SiC_W) reinforced Al-Li and Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr composites prepared by squeeze casting technique were studied by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), in order to evaluate the influence of SiC whisker on planar slip in Al-Li based alloys. For the purpose of comparison, the microstructural features of the unreinforced matrix alloys with the identical fabrication, thermal processing and tensile deformation history were also investigated. Dislocation pairs and intense slip bands originated from cutting of δ′ (Al₃Li) phases by moving dislocations, could be found in the specimens of Al-Li and Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr alloys, whereas absent in either SiC_W/Al-Li or SiC_W/Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr composites. The results demonstrate that the addition of SiC whisker to Al-Li based alloys, has a considerable effect on suppressing planar slip which is a general phenomenon in Al-Li based alloys resulting from the interaction between δ′ phase and dislocations.