A comparative study on metal–matrix composites fabricated by conventional and cross accumulative roll-bonding processes

Highlights: • This paper compares ARB- and CARB-processed composites. • The lateral planes of the CARB sample, contrary to ARB, show a similar feature. • The mechanical properties of the CRAB samples are better than those of ARB. - Abstract: This paper focuses on some structural and mechanical characteristics of Al–Al₂O₃ composites produced by conventional accumulative roll-bonding (ARB) and cross accumulative roll-bonding (CARB). The obtained structures were studied by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and optical microscopy; typically, the reinforcement distribution on different orthogonal planes was quantitatively compared. Also, the composite samples were mechanically characterized by hardness, uniaxial tensile, and fractographic experiments. The results showed that the CARB process, compared with ARB, gives rise to somewhat more effective grain refinement. Concerning the particles dispersion, the lateral rolling planes of the CARB samples, contrary to those of the ARB composites, present a similar feature. It was also found that the hardness, yield stress, tensile strength, and elongation of the CRAB specimens are higher than those of the ARB composites