Influence of Asymmetric Rolling on the Deformation Textures, Grain Size and Mechanical Properties of B4C/Al Composite

B4C/Al composite was a promising neutron absorb material. In this work, B4C/Al composite sheets were asymmetrically rolled and annealed. The asymmetric (ASR) condition was introduced by applying mismatched roll diameters with diameter ratios of 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3, respectively., while the symmetric rolling (SR) was used as the control experiment. Mechanical properties and microstructures of the composite were tested after cold rolling and annealing. Results showed that: ASR with small diameter ratio decreased the texture volume fraction in the B4C/Al composite, but when diameter ratio of ASR reached 1.3 new slip systems were actuated and the texture volume fraction started to increase. The average grain size of the aluminium matrix was smaller after ASR, and it decreased with the increasing diameter ratio. The hardness of B4C/Al composite after ASR was about 40% higher than the one rolled by symmetric rolling, proved that ASR is a promising way to enhance the properties of B4C/Al composite.