Electron beam welding of SiC_p/2024 and 2219 aluminium alloy

SiC_p/2024 matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles and 2219 aluminium alloy were joined by centered electron beam welding and deflection beam welding, respectively, and the microstructures and mechanical properties of these joints were studied. The results show that SiC particles were more likely to segregate by centered electron beam welding, meanwhile lots of Al₄C₃ brittle intermetallic compounds formed for serious interface reactions. Moreover, the tensile strength of the joints was about 104 MPa. The interface reaction was restrained by choosing deflection electron beam welding,and there was a little Al₄C₃ intermetallic compounds formed at the top of the joint and heat affected zone of SiC_p/Al. The quasi-cleavage fracture occurred at the interface reaction layer of the base metal. There was a hardness transition zone near the SiC_p/2024 fusion zone for both methods. The brittle intermetallic compounds Al₄C₃ formed in this zone results in the high hardness.