High specific strength and radiation shielding of laminated AA2024/RO5252 and AA2024/AA1060/RO5252 composite materials prepared by differential temperature rolling

The shielding efficiency, mechanical property, interfacial bonding strength and microstructure of the laminated AA2024/RO5252 and AA2024/AA1060/RO5252 composites produced by differential temperature rolling, followed by solution treatment at 500°C for 1.5h and aging at 200°C for 8h, were investigated by total dose radiation tests, tensile tests, shear tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Both composites showed excellent radiation shielding effect, which were ~60% higher than that of single AA2024 plate that had almost the same surface density. The tensile test and shear test results showed that the yield strength, tensile strength, elongation and interfacial bonding strength of two-layer and three-layer composites in the aged state were 364±1MPa, 476±1MPa, 14±2%, 84±1MPa and 353±1MPa, 451±1MPa, 11±1%, 54±1MPa, respectively. The SEM observations of the shear fracture surface demonstrated a clear increase in the residual aluminum area on the RO5252 side after heat treatment in the two composites. The EBSD results for the cross section of interface showed that after rolling, the RO5252 layer was deformed, while the AA2024 layer was in a state between recovery and recrystallization. After heat treatment, the RO5252 layer remained deformed, while the AA2024 layer underwent a complete recrystallization process. The SEM and TEM observations showed separate Al3339.8Cu231.95Ta2336 intermetallic compound particles at the interface of two-layer composites. But for the three-layer composites, no intermetallic compounds were observed, which is beneficial for improving the property of thermal cycling. These results provide important information for developing laminated Al /Ta based alloy composite material.