Effect of weight percentage and particle size of B4C reinforcement on physical and mechanical properties of powder metallurgy Al2024-B4C composites

In this study, Al2024-B₄C composites containing 0, 5, 10 and 20 wt% of B₄C particles with two different particle sizes (d₅₀=49 μm and d₅₀=5 μm) as reinforcement material were produced by a mechanical alloying method. Two new particle distribution models based on the size of reinforcement materials was developed. The microstructure of the Al2024-B₄C composites was investigated using a scanning electron microscope. The effects of reinforcement particle size and weight percentage (wt%) on the physical and mechanical properties of the Al2024-B₄C composites were determined by measuring the density, hardness and tensile strength values. The results showed that more homogenous dispersion of B₄C powders was obtained in the Al2024 matrix using the mechanical alloying technique according to the conventional powder metallurgy method. Measurement of the density and hardness properties of the composites showed that density values decreased and hardness values increased with an increase in the weight fraction of reinforcement. Moreover, it was found that the effect of reinforcement size and reinforcement content (wt%) on the homogeneous distribution of B₄C particles is as important as the effect of milling time.