Processing of Al/304 stainless steel composite by roll bonding

In the present study, a new technique, mesh reinforcing by roll bonding (MRRB), is proposed to manufacture metal matrix composites. An aluminium matrix composite reinforced with 304 stainless steel (304SS) mesh was fabricated via the MRRB process. Structure and mechanical properties of these composites were studied within different stages of the MRRB process. Tensile tests were used to evaluate the mechanical properties of the MRRB processed 304SS/Al composites. Microstructural studies show that passes of MRRB that preceded 304SS meshes were necked and fractured. After four cycles of MRRB, an aluminium matrix composite with excellent distribution of two different types of 304SS particles was achieved. It reveals that the strength and elongation of these composites increase with increasing MRRB cycles. The tensile strength of the Al/304SS composite becomes ∼3·6 times greater than that of the annealed aluminium used as the starting material.