Effect of Preparation Process on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Metal Hollow Sphere Composites (MHSCs).

In order to study the effect of the preparation process on the microstructure and mechanical properties of metal hollow sphere composites (MHSCs), they were fabricated using different preparation processes (different holding times) by a pressure casting method. The physical parameters of the MHSCs were measured using a direct measurement method, and the phases and microstructure of the MHSCs were observed using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Moreover, the mechanical properties of MHSCs were analyzed by a Zwick/Roell Z2.5 microhardness tester and a universal testing machine. The microscopic morphology and composition analysis results showed that the microstructures of MHSCs varied by holding time, while the mechanical properties test results implied that the microhardness of the transition layer and the matrix increased with the extension of the holding time. However, the MHSCs held for 10 min exhibited the best compression performance. These observations indicated that the compressive properties of MHSCs were mainly dependent on the transition layer and the matrix, excluding the influence of metal hollow spheres, and that the transition layer had a significant impact on the compression performance of MHSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]