PSI - Issue 77

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ScienceDirect

Procedia Structural Integrity 77 (2026) 279–291 Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2026) 000–000 Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2026) 000–000

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International Conference on Structural Integrity Metal Matrix Composites from Severe Plastic Deformation by the Example of High-Pressure Torsion as a Promising Tool to International Conference on Structural Integrity Metal Matrix Composites from Severe Plastic Deformation by the Example of High-Pressure Torsion as a Promising Tool to

Manufacture Smart Materials Valeria Lemkova a,b , Florian Schaefer a, ∗ a Materials Science and Methods, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany b Metallic Materials, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany Manufacture Smart Materials Valeria Lemkova a,b , Florian Schaefer a, ∗ a Materials Science and Methods, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany b Metallic Materials, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany

© 2026 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0) Peer-review under responsibility of ICSI organizers © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http: // creativecommons.org / licenses / by-nc-nd / 4.0 / ) Peer-review under responsibility of ICSI organizers. Keywords: Metal Matrix Composites; High-Pressure Torsion; Zener Pinning; Nanocrystalline Microstructure; Smart Materials; Micromechanical Testing; Finite Element Simulation Abstract High-pressure torsion (HPT), a method of severe plastic deformation, allows to alloy even immiscible phases to supersaturated nanocrystalline (nc) solid solutions and to produce bulk material of metal matrix composites (MMCs) with a nc matrix with out additional thermal load. With the aim of producing MMCs with functionalized ceramic particles (so-called intelligent or smart materials) a large variety of ceramic dispersoids was shown to be susceptible for the incorporation into a metallic matrix by HPT, independent of the mechanical contrast of the individual phases with a well engineered process route. The dispersoids are partially broken to a stabilized geometry and are finely dispersed. However, the microstructure evolution in the vicinity of these inclusions is strongly a ff ected by the mechanical contrast between dispersoids and matrix material. For the material performance, especially in case of fatigue, a strong cohesion between matrix and particles is essential to avoid crack initiation. This interfacial cohesion was characterized by micro-beam bending fracture tests. The thermal stability of the microstructure was investigated by in situ heating in the SEM and examined regarding Zener pinning. The ceramic particles significantly influence the thermal stability compared to particle-free reference material. © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http: // creativecommons.org / licenses / by-nc-nd / 4.0 / ) Peer-review under responsibility of ICSI organizers. Keywords: Metal Matrix Composites; High-Pressure Torsion; Zener Pinning; Nanocrystalline Microstructure; Smart Materials; Micromechanical Testing; Finite Element Simulation Abstract High-pressure torsion (HPT), a method of severe plastic deformation, allows to alloy even immiscible phases to supersaturated nanocrystalline (nc) solid solutions and to produce bulk material of metal matrix composites (MMCs) with a nc matrix with out additional thermal load. With the aim of producing MMCs with functionalized ceramic particles (so-called intelligent or smart materials) a large variety of ceramic dispersoids was shown to be susceptible for the incorporation into a metallic matrix by HPT, independent of the mechanical contrast of the individual phases with a well engineered process route. The dispersoids are partially broken to a stabilized geometry and are finely dispersed. However, the microstructure evolution in the vicinity of these inclusions is strongly a ff ected by the mechanical contrast between dispersoids and matrix material. For the material performance, especially in case of fatigue, a strong cohesion between matrix and particles is essential to avoid crack initiation. This interfacial cohesion was characterized by micro-beam bending fracture tests. The thermal stability of the microstructure was investigated by in situ heating in the SEM and examined regarding Zener pinning. The ceramic particles significantly influence the thermal stability compared to particle-free reference material.

1. Introduction 1. Introduction

Metal-matrix composites (MMCs) have been studied in recent decades and combine traditionally a matrix metal with a ceramic reinforcement. The common term ”cermet” is designated to metal / ceramic composites of high ceramic content Evans et al. (2003); Miracle (2005). Ceramic embedment to a metallic matrix provides a promising strategy to functionalize metals Ramanathan et al. (2021). Metal-matrix composites (MMCs) have been studied in recent decades and combine traditionally a matrix metal with a ceramic reinforcement. The common term ”cermet” is designated to metal / ceramic composites of high ceramic content Evans et al. (2003); Miracle (2005). Ceramic embedment to a metallic matrix provides a promising strategy to functionalize metals Ramanathan et al. (2021).

2452-3216 © 2026 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0) Peer-review under responsibility of ICSI organizers 10.1016/j.prostr.2026.01.037 ∗ Dr.-Ing. Florian Schaefer. Tel.: + 49-681-302-5172; fax: + 49-681-302-5015. E-mail address: f.schaefer@matsci.uni-sb.de 2210-7843 © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http: // creativecommons.org / licenses / by-nc-nd / 4.0 / ) Peer-review under responsibility of ICSI organizers. ∗ Dr.-Ing. Florian Schaefer. Tel.: + 49-681-302-5172; fax: + 49-681-302-5015. E-mail address: f.schaefer@matsci.uni-sb.de 2210-7843 © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http: // creativecommons.org / licenses / by-nc-nd / 4.0 / ) Peer-review under responsibility of ICSI organizers.