MICRO-SCALE STRENGTHENING EVOLUTION IN ARB-PROCESSED Al/Al–TiB 2 -LAYERED LAMINATES
Abstract
Multilayer metal–ceramic laminates produced through severe plastic deformation have become an effective route for achieving high strength while maintaining reasonable ductility. In this study, Al/Al–TiB 2 layered sheets were manufactured using accumulative roll bonding (ARB) combined with intermediate high-temperature annealing. Al–Zn–Mg–Cu sheets and TiB 2 -modified Al–Zn–Mg–Cu sheets were stacked and rolled through repeated ARB cycles to form multilayer plates. SEM, EBSD, TEM, and EDS analyses showed continuous interfaces with no signs of plastic instability. TiB 2 particles gradually redistributed along the rolling direction, removing clusters and improving strain uniformity. Grain refinement and dynamic recrystallization were evident, and the fraction of high-angle boundaries reached 43.4%. Mechanical tests indicated that the best performance occurred after six ARB cycles, with 540 MPa tensile strength, 417 MPa yield strength, and 14.1% elongation. Strengthening was mainly governed by dislocation accumulation, supported by grain boundary hardening, Orowan bypassing around TiB 2 particles, and minor solid-solution effects. Comparison with earlier ARB systems confirmed that this laminate provides a superior strength–ductility balance. The results emphasize the importance of particle dispersion, recrystallization behavior, and interface stability in controlling the mechanical response of Al-based laminated composites. This work offers practical guidance for designing advanced lightweight laminates for aerospace and transportation applications, showing that ceramic reinforcement combined with ARB processing can eliminate instability and deliver robust mechanical properties.