Abstract: β-Si3N4 whisker reinforced aluminum composites was fabricated by squeeze casting before extrusion and an effect of content of Mg on the High Strain Rate Superplastic- ity (HSRS) were investigated, The optimum temperature of the composites at which maximum total elongation is obtained decreases according to magnesium content and the β-Si_3N_4w/Al-3Mg exhibits the total elongation of about 200% at the strain rate of 10~(-1) s~(-1) and at 853-858 K, although the β-Si_3N_4w/Al-0Mg composite shows about 100% elongation at the strain rate of about 1×10~(-1) s~(-1) at 903-913 K. Optimum strain rate of the composites fabricated by squeeze casting was about 1×10~(-1) s~(-1) but TEM observation indicates that the β-Si_3N_4w/Al-Mg has a fine grain of about 2- 3μm and that the whisker might no react with Mg at the interfaces, although the β-Si_3N_4 whisker react with aluminum matrix.

Key words: high strain rate superplasticity, β-Si_3N_4 whisker, pure aluminum composite