Accumulative Roll Bonding Route for Composite Materials Production

Accumulative roll bonding (ARB) is a popular severe plastic deformation (SPD) method which was used to produce ultrafine grain materials and bimetallic composite strips. ARB was discovered to produce metal matrix composites (MMCs) a decade ago by incorporating reinforcement particles between the sheets prior to roll bonding. The severe deformation and the plasticized material flow effectively mix the reinforcement particles and produce a homogenous dispersion in the metallic matrix. Since the temperature during ARB is insufficient to melt the matrix material, all solidification related issues such as segregation, cluster formation, decomposition of reinforcement particle, and network of pores are completely avoided. ARB is a sound method to produce high strength MMCs compared to all conventionally adopted casting routes. The process provides excellent interfacial bonding between the metallic matrix and the reinforcement without any kind of diffusion or reaction. ARB is not affected by the physical or chemical properties of reinforcement particles. This article presents the development of various metallic based MMCs using ARB since its inception. The influence of process parameters such as rolling speed, temperature, and number of passes on the microstructure and the mechanical properties are discussed. The strengthening mechanisms of MMCs produced by ARBs are explored.