Novel Manufacturing of Bio-inspired Metal Matrix Composites by Semisolid Forming-Joining

这笔赠款将提供资金，以建立一种新型的金属复合材料制造工艺，该工艺可以创造一种受鲍鱼贝壳启发的生物层次结构。 已知鲍鱼贝壳的“砖-砂浆”构造中的软层和硬层的分级组织显著提高复合材料韧性（100- 1000倍）和抗压强度（5倍）。 所提出的半固态成形连接（SFJ）技术独特地利用了固相和液相共存的材料条件。 设计的结构是通过巩固图案化的铝片填充硬碳化硅颗粒。 复合材料的合成机制将通过理解液相渗透和由此产生的界面之间的软，硬相的微观结构进行分析。 将开发SFJ过程的数值模型，以预测和分析从实验中创建的结构的尺寸。 该仿生复合材料的强化和增韧效果将通过冲击和断裂测试进行测量。这项研究的成功完成将有助于开发一种简单、低成本和易于扩展的金属复合材料制造技术，能够实现复杂的材料设计。 此外，新型SFJ工艺有望成为开发下一代先进金属复合材料的平台。 了解鲍鱼贝壳在金属复合材料中的增韧和强化机制，可能会导致开发超硬、轻质、坚韧的材料，用于各种应用，如制造节能车辆、坚固的装甲、轻型飞机等。拟议的教育和宣传活动将促进招聘和留住工程学科的妇女和代表性不足的学生，并帮助学术界与当地产业建立联系。 所学到的知识将通过主要期刊和专业协会会议传播。

This grant will provide funding to establish a novel metal composite manufacturing process that can create a hierarchical structure bio-inspired by an abalone seashell. The hierarchical organization of soft and hard layers in a "brick-and-mortar" configuration of the abalone seashell is known to significantly improve the composite toughness (100- to 1000-fold) and compressive strength (5-fold). The proposed semisolid forming-joining (SFJ) technique uniquely exploits a material condition where both solid and liquid phases coexist. The designed structure is created by consolidating patterned aluminum sheets filled with hard silicon carbide particles. The composite synthesis mechanism will be analyzed by understanding the liquid phase infiltration and resultant interface microstructures between the soft and hard phases. A numerical model of the SFJ process will be developed to predict and analyze the dimensions of structures created from experiments. The strengthening and toughening effects of the bio-inspired composite will be measured by impact and fracture tests.The successful completion of this research will enable development of a simple, low-cost and easily scalable metal composite manufacturing technology capable of realizing complex material designs. Moreover, the novel SFJ process is expected to serve as a platform for developing next-generation, advanced metal composites. Understanding the toughening and strengthening mechanism of the abalone seashell applied in metal composites may lead to development of ultrahard, lightweight, tough materials for various applications such as making energy efficient vehicles, strong armors, lightweight aircrafts, etc. The proposed educational and outreach activities will promote recruiting and retaining of women and under-represented students in engineering disciplines, and help academia to connect with local industries. The knowledge learned will be disseminated through premier journals and at professional society meetings.