Preparation and Properties of Laminated Bionic High-strength Composites of B₄C Ceramic/Al

Abstract

Based on the laminar composite structure, the hardness distribution pattern and crack arrest property of Rapana venosa shell, bionic layered composite materials were prepared via hot-pressing sintering by using B4C/5083Al system and pure 5083Al as materials. The microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and universal tester. The results show that on the macroscopic level, the bionic layered composite material has a multi-layered structure which is composed of hard layer of B4C/5083Al and flexible layer of 5083Al. The bionic composites exhibit “soft and hard” distribution characteristic of hardness. On the microscopic level, the hard layer of B4C/5083Al consists of B4C and 5083Al matrix, and B4C is staggered and interlinked in 5083Al matrix with combination of "soft and hard" properties. The bionic layered composites own higher compressive strength and impact toughness, and the layered overlapping structure can reset the direction of crack in the next layer, which lead the crack deflection phenomena and high impact resistance.

Keywords

• bionic structure
• ceramics
• composites
• sintering
• performance testing