Quantifying laser irradiation-induced temperature field of particle reinforced metal matrix composites

While particle-reinforced metal matrix composites (PMMCs) are composed of particles and matrix with distinctly different thermomechanical properties, the thermal differences and coupled interactions between individual phases greatly determine the thermal characteristics of PMMCs under laser irradiation. In this work, we quantify the temperature evolution characteristics within SiCp/Al under laser irradiation by microstructural thermal finite element simulations and experimental investigation. Specifically, a 2D thermophysical FE model of laser-SiCp/Al interaction for the two-phase PMMCs material under laser irradiation is developed, which incorporates the temperature-dependent thermophysical properties of particles, matrix and interfaces, along with the considerations of the shape and distribution characteristics of particles, as well as the comprehensive thermal conditions. Furthermore, a 3D equivalent thermal FE model for experimental validation of predicted laser-induced temperature of SiCp/Al is developed, based on the derived equivalent properties. Meanwhile, an in-situ temperature measurement system is constructed for exploring temperature evolution characteristics during the on-going laser irradiation process, which validates a derivation of 1.7 % of predicted temperature by the equivalent thermal FE model. Finally, the impact of laser processing parameters on the temperature field of SiCp/Al is addressed. These findings provide valuable insights for understanding the thermal mechanisms of PMMCs under laser irradiation, and also the parameter optimization for laser processing of PMMCs.