The influence of mechanical processing of chip waste from cast Al - Si - B4C composites on the structure and properties of consolidated billets

In order to increase the efficiency of material extraction during recycling of non-compact waste, solid-phase processing methods are currently being developed to reduce energy consumption in the manufacturing of secondary products. This study provides a comparative evaluation of the influence of high-energy ball milling of chip waste from turning ingots of AlSi12 + 10 vol.% B4C aluminum matrix composite on changes in the structure and mechanical properties of consolidated billets compared to compacted unprepared chips and as-cast state. It was found that the samples consolidated from powder are characterized by increased strength properties in comparison with the cast composite and chips pressed composite. Specifically, the yield strength of the powder consolidated specimens increased by-1.5 and-2.3 times compared to the cast composite and chips pressed composite, respectively. The hardness of the cast composite was 39.35 +/- 3.2 HRB, while the hardness of the samples consolidated from chips and powder was 42.75 +/- 1.2 and 71.4 +/- 1.5 HRB, correspondingly. The observed mechanical behavior is associated with a reduction in the sizes of the structural constituents of the matrix alloy, fragmentation of the reinforcing particles, a decrease in the porosity fraction, as well as an increase in the uniformity of particles distribution in the volume of the powder-pressed specimen. The results demonstrate the potential of solid-phase methods for processing non-compact waste in the manufacturing of products from metal matrix composites.