An Experimental Study of Fracture Toughness for Nano/Ultrafine Grained Al5052/Cu Multilayered Composite Processed by Accumulative Roll Bonding

In this study, ultrafine grained Al5052/Cu multilayered composite has been produced by accumulative roll bonding (ARB) and fracture properties have been studied using plane stress fracture toughness. The fracture toughness has been investigated for the unprocessed specimens, primary sandwich and first, second, and third cycles of ARB process by ASTM E561 and compact tension (CT) specimens. Also, the microstructure and mechanical properties have been investigated using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, uniaxial tensile tests, and microhardness measurements. The value of plane stress fracture toughness for the ultrafine grained Al5052/Cu composite increased by increasing the number of ARB cycles, continuously from the primary sandwich to end of the third cycle. The maximum value of 59.1 MPa m^1/2 has been obtained that it is about 2.77 and 4.05 more than Al5052 and pure Cu (unprocessed specimens). This phenomenon indicated that ARB process and the addition of copper to aluminum alloy could increase the value of fracture toughness to more than three times. The results showed that by increasing the ARB cycles, the thickness of copper layers reduced and after the fifth cycle, the excellent uniformity of Cu layers achieved. By increasing the number of ARB cycles, the microhardness of both aluminum and copper layers have been significantly increased. The tensile strength of the sandwich has been enhanced continually, and the maximum value of 566.5 MPa has been achieved.