In this study, SiC particle reinforced AA2017 composites powder were produced by high-energy ball milling and spark plasma sintering with subsequent heat treatment process. The AA2017-SiC _p composites powders were synthesized using a high-energy ball milling to ensure a uniform distribution of SiC _p within the aluminum matrix. These composites were then consolidated through Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) to produce fully dense materials with improved properties. AA2017-SiC _p  composites with various amounts of SiC particles (5 to 20 vol%) were successfully prepared. Microstructural analyzes were conducted using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and phase characterization via X-ray diffraction (XRD) to gain insights into the evolution of the composite material during the synthesis process. Mechanical properties were evaluated through hardness, tensile, and compressive strength tests. The results showed that a fine microstructure with uniform SiC reinforcement and aluminum-SiC _p bonding, leading to increased hardness, tensile, and compressive strength compared to pure AA2017. The microhardness of the composite powder and sintered samples increased with increasing volume fraction of SiC particles. The sintered AA2017-SiC p composites were solution treated for 2 h at different temperatures and then aged at 180 °C for various aging periods (4, 8 and 12 h). The results indicate that in AA2017-SiC _p composites, the main strengthening phase of Al ₂ Cu was homogenously distributed in the matrix. The highest increment in microhardness by aging treatment was observed for composite solution treated at 500 °C for 8 h (187 HV0.1). The compressive yield strength of the AA2017-SiC _p metal matrix composites (459 MPa) was higher than that of the unreinforced matrix material (272 MPa). Tensile strength is improved by the SiC addition in both the sintered and heat-treated conditions, while ductility is reduced with 15 vol% reinforcement.

Key words: Al-SiC composites, high-energy ball milling, SPS, Microhardness, Tensile strength and Compressive Strength