Preparation and mechanical properties of SiC-reinforced Al6061 composite by mechanical alloying

In this paper, an Al6061–10 wt% SiC composite was prepared using the mechanical alloying route. The morphology and the structure of the prepared powder, which change with milling time, were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, respectively. Moreover, the relationships among the stages of mechanical alloying (MA), relative density and hardness of both pressed and hot extruded materials were investigated. The morphological evolutions showed that relatively equiaxed powders could be synthesized after 9 h of milling. The evolution of relative density and hardness with milling time is due to the morphological and microstructural changes imposed on the composite powder. High-relative densities are typical of the hot extruded samples. The effect of mechanical alloying process on hardness is more significant compared to reinforcement particles. The aging behaviors of the mechanically alloyed, commercially mixed and unreinforced Al6061 were compared. The results showed that MA composites exhibit no aging-hardenability.     

An investigation of the synthesis,consolidation and mechanical behaviour of Al 6061 nanocomposites reinforced by TiC via mechanical alloying

Nanostructured Al 6061–x wt.% TiC (x = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 wt.%) composites were synthesised by mechanical alloying with a milling time of 30 h. The milled powders were consolidated by cold uniaxial compaction followed by sintering at various temperatures (723, 798 and 873 K). The uniform distribution and dispersion of TiC particles in the Al 6061 matrix was confirmed by characterising these nanocomposite powders by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mechanical properties, specifically the green compressive strength and hardness, were tested. A maximum hardness of 1180 MPa was obtained for the Al 6061–2 wt.% TiC nanocomposite sintered at 873 K, which was approximately four times higher than that of the Al 6061 microcrystalline material. A maximum green compressive strength of 233 MPa was obtained when 2 wt.% TiC was added. The effect of reinforcement on the densification was studied and reported in terms of the relative density, sinterability, green compressive strength, compressibility and Vickers hardness of the nanocomposites. The compressibility curves of the developed nanocomposite powders were also plotted and investigated using the Heckel, Panelli and Ambrosio Filho and Ge equations.     

Single-point scratching of 6061 Al alloy reinforced by different ceramic particles

Aluminium alloys reinforced by ceramic particles have been widely used in aerospace and automotive industries for their high stiffness and wear resistance. However, the machining of such materials is difficult and would usually cause excessive tool wear. The effect of ceramic particles on the cutting mechanisms is also unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the cutting mechanisms and the relationship between specific energy of scratching and depth of cut (size effect). The single-point scratch test was carried out on 6061 Al and its composites reinforced by Al₂O₃ and SiC ceramic particles using a pyramid indenter. The results indicated that the scratch process was composed of rubbing, ploughing, plastic cutting and reinforcement fracture. A simple model was proposed to interpret the apparent size effect. The effect of reinforcement on the specific energy was correlated to the ratio of volume fraction to particle radius. The paper found that for machining MMCs, a larger depth of cut should be used to maintain a lower machining energy, especially for those with a larger ratio of volume fraction to particle radius.     

机械合金化和粉末冶金法制备Fe-Mn-Si基形状记忆合金的研究进展

铁基形状记忆合金由于价格低廉、强度高、加工性能好、可焊接等优点引起广泛重视。机械合金化(MA)和粉末冶金(PM)作为制备材料的新工艺,可以用来制备性能优越的形状记忆合金。本文详述了机械合金化和粉末冶金工艺在制备Fe-Mn-Si基形状记忆合金过程中对合金相变、组织与性能的影响,以及此类合金在新领域的应用。最后提出了现阶段在研究MA/PM工艺制备Fe-Mn-Si基SMA中有关工艺参数、相变机制以及回复应力和低温应力松弛所存在的问题。     

Elevated temperature tensile properties of powder metallurgy Ni3Al alloyed with chromium and zirconium

The tensile properties of hot extruded powders of Ni-24.1Al, Ni-19.1Al-8.5Cr, and Ni-17.4Al-7.9Cr-0.5Zr have been evaluated from room temperature to 1000° C. These powder metallurgy materials have a fine grain size that results in relatively little increase in yield stress with increasing temperature compared to coarse-grained or single-crystal materials. The alloy containing chromium and zirconium shows greatly reduced dynamic embrittlement in the temperature range 600 to 800° C where the unalloyed aluminide exhibits brittle behaviour. The Cr- and Cr + Zr-containing alloys deform superplastically above 900° C. The mechanism of superplastic deformation appears to be predominantly grain-boundary sliding.     

2014 and 6061 aluminium alloy-based powder metallurgy composites containing silicon carbide particles/fibres

The present investigation covers the processing and mechanical properties of 2014 and 6061 Al alloy-based power metallurgy composites containing up to 8 vol% of SiC in either particle or continuous fibre form. For consolidation of the green compacts, liquid phase sintering under vaccum at 635°C was adopted. The addition of reinforcement imparted improved densification such that particulate composites were better densified than the fibrous ones. Relatively higher work hardening rates were observed in fibrous composites than in the particulate ones. The ductility values of obtained porous particulate composites were similar to those of the fully dense ones reported in the literature.     

Structure and properties of ductile CuAlMn shape memory alloy synthesized by mechanical alloying and powder metallurgy

A ductile Cu–Al–Mn–Ti–B shape memory alloy with high fatigue strength has been prepared via mechanical alloying and powder metallurgy. With increasing milling time, the size of the crystallite grains decreases. Cu diffraction pattern appeared only after milling at a speed of 300 rpm for 25 h. The single phase CuAlMnTiB solid solution powder after 35 h milling was hot-pressed and extruded to form the final alloy. The quenched alloy had a single β phase at room temperature and its yield strength, maximum strength and strain were measured to be 390 MPa, 1015 MPa and 14.4%, respectively. The aged alloy showed a martensite structure at room temperature and had a shape memory recovery of 92% after 120 cycles.     

Formation of amorphous Ni-Zr alloy powder by mechanical alloying of intermetallic powder mixtures and mixtures of nickel or zirconium with intermetallics

Mechanical alloying was used to synthesize Ni_xZr_1–x alloys from mixtures of intermetallic compound powders, and also from mixtures of intermetallic compound powders and pure elemental powders. The mechanically alloyed powders were amorphous in the range 0.24 x 0.85. This range is larger than amorphous alloys produced by the melt-spinning technique and mechanical alloying of elemental crystalline powders. Two-phase mixtures of the amorphous phase and the corresponding crystalline terminal solid solution were formed in the range 0.10 x 0.22, and x=0.90. It is found that the morphological development during mechanical alloying of these powders is different from mechanical alloying using only pure ductile crystalline elemental powders. The thermal stability has been investigated. The enthalpy and activation energy of crystallization for Ni-Zr amorphous powders prepared by mechanical alloying are lower than those for melt-spun samples of the same composition. The crystallization temperature of the mechanically alloyed Ni-Zr amorphous powders is higher than that of meltspun samples in the composition range Ni₂₀Zr₈₀ to Ni₃₃Zr₆₇ and Ni₄₀Zr₆₀ to Ni₆₀Zr₄₀. The presence of tiny crystallites as nucleation centres and high oxygen levels in the mechanically alloyed amorphous alloys might be responsible for the differences in crystallization behaviour. A new crystalline metastable phase was observed during crystallization studies of Ni₂₄Zr₇₆ amorphous powder.     

Compressive behaviour of SiC/ncsc reinforced Mg composite processed through powder metallurgy route

In this present work nano coconut shell charcoal (ncsc) and silicon carbide (SiC) particulates were reinforced with AZ31B Mg alloy and suitable magnesium composite was developed by using the powder metallurgy technique followed by hot extrusion. Density measurement of the Mg composites revealed that the addition of ncsc significantly improved the density of the composites and porosity measurement showed minimal porosity. The microstructure of the composites showed even distribution of the ncsc in the AZ31B/3SiC Mg composite. The compressive and impact behaviour of the samples were characterized, the results showed that on increasing the weight percentage of ncsc in AZ31B/3SiC/0.5ncsc Mg composites the mechanical properties such as ultimate compressive strength, 0.2% yield strength, ductility and impact strength decreased. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis of fractured surface of AZ31B Mg alloy and AZ31B/3SiC/0.5ncsc Mg composites showed quasi-cleavage fracture. The presence of ncsc above 0.5 wt% composites revealed mixture of quasi cleavage planes and some dimples.     

Microstructural evolution of a cold-deformed 6061Al reinforced with SiC particles during subsequent annealing

The microstructural development during annealing of a cold-deformed 6061Al metal matrix composite (MMC) reinforced with either 3 or 20 m diameter SiC particles has been investigated. The composites were compressed to low (< 10%) levels of strain and then annealed at either 350 or 450°C for different times. Microstructure examination was carried out by transmission electron microscopy and optical microscopy. The results reveal that prior grain boundaries and constituent particles are the dominant sites for recrystallization in both composites, although some nucleation was observed adjacent to the larger SiC particles. The concurrent presence of Mg₂Si precipitates affected the progress of recrystallization.     

Thermal expansion properties of 6061 Al alloy reinforced with SiC particles or short fibers

Thermal expansion measurements are reported for 6061 Al alloy and drawn composite materials reinforced with SiC particles or aligned short fibers. Samples with volume fractions of 5 and 20% SiC were measured in the drawing direction. The measurements were obtained from repeated heating and cooling cycles between room temperature and 500°C. Cumulative plastic strains were measured for the repeated thermal cycles, in association with the observation that lower expansivities generally occurred on cooling as compared with heating. Model calculations for particulate and an aligned fiber are presented for the combined elastic-plastic deformation properties of the Al/SiC composite systems. Lower expansivities and greater plastic strains are accounted for in the fiber-reinforced material.Paper presented at the Tenth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 20–23, 1988, Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.A.     

Ti–6Al–4V particle reinforced magnesium matrix composite by powder metallurgy

A novel Ti–6Al–4V particle (TCp) reinforced MB15 magnesium matrix composite, TCp/MB15, was fabricated using powder metallurgy route. Microstructural characterization revealed that a uniform distribution of TCp, good interfacial bond between TCp and the matrix, and a smaller grain-size compared to the unreinforced MB15 were achieved in the composite. Mechanical properties investigation showed the ultimate tensile strength, 0.2% yield strength and elastic modulus of MB15 were markedly increased by the addition of TCp, and the strengthening effect of TCp was better than that of SiC particles. The primary aim of this work was to compare the microstructural and mechanical properties of TCp/MB15 with those of MB15 alloy.     

Al–Ti powder produced through mechanical alloying for different times

A powder mixture of aluminum, 10 wt% titanium, and 1.5 wt% of a wax acting as process control agent (PCA), has been attrition-milled for 2–20 h. Titanium powder had been previously ground to a lower particle size to make it similar to the as-received aluminum particle size. The overall aim of this work was to achieve a metastable titanium solution in the aluminum matrix. Changes with milling time of particle size and shape, microstructure, hardness and other powder characteristics have been studied. Given the used experimental-conditions, a process time of 10 h has been selected for the mechanical alloying (MA) of Al–10Ti powder, attaining a compromise between uniform microstructure development and a not so long processing time. At this milling time aluminum dissolves about 9 wt% Ti, increasing its Vickers microhardness (202 VH₂₀) more than 10 times with reference to the starting Al powder (20 VH₂₀). Milled particle size is smaller than the starting one (17 vs. 44 μm). Increasing milling for longer times, up to 20 h, does not produce important changes in powders structure.     

Investigation of microstructure and mechanical properties of nano MgO reinforced Al composites manufactured by stir casting and powder metallurgy methods: A comparative study

In the present work, Al–nano MgO composites using A356 aluminum alloy and MgO nanoparticles (1.5, 2.5, and 5 vol.%) have been fabricated via stir casting and powder metallurgy (PM) methods. Different processing temperatures of 800, 850, and 950 °C for stir casting and 575, 600, and 625 °C for powder metallurgy were considered. Powder metallurgy samples showed more porosity portions compare to the casting samples which results in higher density values of casting composites (close to the theoretical density) compare to the sintering samples. Introduction of MgO nanoparticles to the Al matrix caused increasing of the hardness values which was more considerable in casting samples. The highest hardness value for casting and sintering samples have been obtained at 850 and 625 °C respectively, in 5 vol.% of MgO. Compressive strength values of casting composites were higher than sintered samples which were majorly due to the more homogeneity of Al matrix, less porosity portions, and better wettability of MgO nanoparticles in casting method. The highest compressive strength values for casting and sintered composites have been obtained at 850 and 625 °C, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy images showed higher porosity portions in sintered composites and more agglomeration and aggregation of MgO nanoparticles in casting samples which was due to the fundamental difference of two methods. Generally, the optimum processing temperatures to achieve better mechanical properties were 625 and 850 °C for powder metallurgy and stir-casting, respectively. Moreover, casting method represented more homogeneous data and higher values of mechanical properties compare to the powder metallurgy method.     

Nitrogen addition to iron powder by mechanical alloying

Nitrogen was alloyed into iron (a) by mechanical processing in a nitrogen gas environment, and (b) by mechanically alloying with iron-nitride powders to characterize resulting nano-structure and nitrogen distribution. Although the infused nitrogen concentration was significantly greater than the thermodynamic equilibrium solubility of iron, no nitrides formed, even for nitrogen concentrations as high as 4.1 wt.% However, a bctFe phase did form. Lattice expansion calculations indicate that the sum of the interstitial bcc-Fe and bctFe nitrogen concentrations was significantly less than the total measured nitrogen concentration. A considerable portion of the mechanically infused nitrogen was determined to be associated with nanograin boundaries.     

Microstructure and property characterization of Al-based composites reinforced with CuZrAl particles fabricated by mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering

In the present work, CuZrAl metallic glass particles were synthesized by mechanical alloying method. High relative density Al-based composites (ABCs) reinforced with different volume fraction of CuZrAl particles have been fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. The microstructures, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance in seawater solution of the ABCs were investigated. The sintered products are all composed of fcc-Al, Al₃Zr and CuAl₂ phases. For CuZrAl addition, bright and network precipitates are clearly observed in the Al matrix. On account of the interdiffusion of Al and Cu atoms between matrix and reinforcement, the ABCs present the good interfacial bonding. Compared with SPS-ed pure Al bulk, ABCs possess the excellent mechanical properties. It is mainly ascribed to the second phase strengthening, continuously distributed precipitates, high relative density or bonding interface, and grain refinement strengthening. Thereinto, combined with a degree of plastic strain, the composite with 20?vol% CuZrAl reinforcement reveals the best micro-hardness (290?HV), and the highest yield strength and fracture strength of 408 and 459?MPa, respectively. Moreover, the ABCs bear the better pitting resistance with wide passive region in seawater solution.     

Preparation and mechanical properties of Al2O3 reinforced by submicrometer Co particles

Al2O3/Co composites were fabricated by vacuum hot-pressing a mixture of -Al2O3 powder and a fine cobalt powder. Submicron-sized cobalt particles were uniformly dispersed into the Al2O3 matrix, and the dispersed type was a more inter-/intragranular one with increases of cobalt content up to 40 wt% Co addition. The growth of cobalt particles occurred with increasing cobalt content. At 50 wt% Co addition, however, the growth as well as coalescence of cobalt particles occurred. The phases formed in the Al2O3/Co composites were f-Co(fcc), h-Co(hcp), -Al2O3, and a small amount of graphite. Significant improvements in bending strength (from 341 to 771 MPa) and fracture toughness (from 3.7 to 6.7 MPam1/2) of the Al2O3/40 wt% Co(23 vol% Co) composite compared to monolithic Al2O3 were achieved by dispersing submicron-sized Co particles into the Al2O3 matrix. The improvement in bending strength was attributed to the compressive thermal residual stress in the matrix Al2O3 induced by the mismatch of the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) between the matrix Al2O3 grains and cobalt particles during cooling from hot-pressing temperature. The fracture toughness of the composite was enhanced by crack bridging, crack deflection, and compressive thermal residual stress.     

Constitutive modeling of powder metallurgy processed Al–4%Cu preforms during compression at elevated temperature

In this study, a hot deformation constitutive base analysis has been conducted on powder metallurgy (P/M) processed Al–4%Cu preforms. The main objective is to evaluate the effect of initial relative density on the hot deformation behaviour and to establish the constitutive equation which considers the effect of initial relative density during hot compression test. This has been carried out by using the true stress–true strain curve data obtained from hot compression test of P/M processed Al–4%Cu preforms with different initial relative density of 0.84, 0.87 and 0.9 for various range of temperature 300–500 °C and strain rate range of 0.1–0.4 s⁻¹. It has been found that the flow stress is notably influenced by initial relative density, temperature and strain rate. The results show that the flow stress exhibits peak value at certain strain value, and then decreases showing flow softening until the flow stress remains constant at higher strain values. A constitutive equation that predicts the flow stress in hot compression of P/M processed Al–4%Cu preforms has been developed. The predicted flow stress values are in a good agreement with the experimental results and it is confirmed that the formulated constitutive equation is accurate and reliable to predict the flow stress of Al–4%Cu preforms during hot compression at elevated temperature.     

Investigation of wear behaviours of Al matrix composites reinforced with different B4C rate produced by powder metallurgy method

In this study, the effects of wear behaviours of Al matrix composites reinforced with different B₄C rate produced by powder metallurgy method were investigated. Al and B₄C powders with purity of 99.9% and sizes of 25–44 µm were prepared as pure Al, 4% B₄C/Al, 8% B₄C/Al, 12% B₄C/Al and 16% B₄C/Al. After these prepared mixtures were pressed under 350 MPa, they were sintered for 90 min at 580 °C in atmospheric environment. Microhardness and wear tests of the produced samples were carried out. Wear experiments of these composites were performed with specially manufactured test equipment at different application loads (5 N, 10 N and 15 N), different sliding distances (250 m, 500 m, 750 m and 1000 m) and a constant speed of 0.46 m/s. In addition, optical microscope, SEM, EDS analyses were used to determine the microstructural changes in the worn and unworn surface of the manufactured composite materials. The results of experimental studies show that the increasing the B₄C reinforced rate in composites with Al matrix has led to increase of the hardness and to reduce of the wear loss.