Synthesis of an Al2O3/Al co-continuous composite by reactive melt infiltration

The route for the fabrication of an Al₂O₃/Al co-continuous composite by reactive melt infiltration was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis and X-ray diffraction analysis. It was found that in the process of molten aluminium infiltration into the SiO₂ preform, the chemical reaction of 3SiO₂ + 4Al → 2Al₂O₃ + 3Si occurred at the infiltration front, and generated a transition zone containing a new type of continuous porosity about 100 μm in width. The reaction continued with further infiltration of molten aluminium alloy into this porosity which reacted with the residual SiO₂ until all the SiO₂ was transformed into Al₂O₃. A comparison was made between this route and that by direct infiltration of molten aluminium alloy into the open porosity of an Al₂O₃ preform. As a result of the increased wetting ability of the molten aluminium alloy by the chemical reaction, reactive melt infiltration took place at a higher rate for the SiO₂ preform than that for the direct infiltration of the Al₂O₃ preform. A fracture surface examination demonstrated a toughening effect provided by the continuous aluminium alloy in the composite.     

Al2O3 reinforced Al/Ni intermetallic matrix composite by reactive sintering

An aluminium-nickel reinforced Al₂O₃ particulate composite was fabricated by a powder metallurgy route, where 35wt% aluminium and 30wt% nickel powders were mixed with 35wt% Al₂O₃ particles and compacted at 548 MPa. Sintering was carried out at 850 °C, where the synthesis reaction was sustained by the transient liquid phase resulting from the exothermic reaction associated with the formation of intermetallic compounds, i.e. reactive sintering. The resultant microstructure was studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). It was found that the initial distribution of individual constituent powders affect the outcome of the reactive sintering and that the inward diffusion of aluminium in nickel was responsible for nickel aluminide formation.     

Sintering of glass matrix composites containing Al2O3 platelet inclusions

The effect of alumina platelet inclusions on the sintering behaviour of a commercial aluminosilicate glass powder has been investigated by means of a heating microscope at 850°C. For platelet volume fractions 0.15, no significant influence of the inclusions on the densification behaviour of the composite was found. Scherer's model for viscous sintering with rigid inclusions, which uses the Hashin-Shtrikman approximation for the composite shear viscosity, can be conveniently used to interpret the experimental results. However, the composite densification rate and the stresses caused by the inclusions can be correctly predicted using this model only for inclusion volume fractions lower than a critical value, given by the percolation threshold. For platelet volume fractions 0.15, high-density glass matrix composites can be fabricated by simple pressureless sintering.     

Determining the effect of flake matrix size and Al2O3 content on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al2O3 nanoparticle reinforced Al matrix composites

In this study, Al2024 matrix composites reinforced with Al₂O₃ nanoparticle contents ranging from 1 to 5?wt% were produced via a new method called as flake powder metallurgy (FPM). The effect of flake size and Al₂O₃ nanoparticle content on the reinforcement distribution, microstructure, physical, and mechanical properties of the composites were studied. SEM analysis was performed to investigate the microstructure of metal matrix and the distribution of nanoparticles. The hot-pressed density increased with decreasing the matrix size. The hardness of the Al2024–Al₂O₃ nanocomposites fabricated by using fine matrix powders increased as compared to the Al2024–Al₂O₃ nanocomposites produced by using coarse matrix powders. It has been found that the FPM method proposed in this study revealed to be an effective method for the production of nanoparticle reinforced metal matrix composites.     

Al2O3·SiO2颗粒增强铝基复合材料的摩擦磨损特性

对用挤压铸造法制备出的Al2O3@SiO2颗粒增强铝基复合材料在不同条件下的摩擦磨损特性进行了研究.结果表明:Al2O3@SiO2颗粒的加入可提高复合材料的耐磨性,复合材料同基体铝合金相比摩擦因数也较低.在较低载荷和滑动速度下,该复合材料的耐磨性明显优越于基体铝合金,摩擦因数也稳定地低于基体铝合金;而在较高载荷和滑动速度下,同基体铝合金相比,复合材料耐磨性的改善有所降低,但摩擦因数仍可以保持较低的水平.这是由于随着载荷和滑动速度的变化,复合材料的磨损机制发生了转化.对Al2O3@SiO2颗粒在摩擦磨损过程中所起到的作用进行了分析.     

Al2O3@Y3Al5O12纳米短纤维对铝合金基复合材料的增强作用

采用一种具有芯-壳结构的复合纳米纤维增强铝合金复合材料,可以在提高抗拉强度的同时增加塑性。通过真空热压烧结技术制备了Al₂O₃@Y₃Al₅O₁₂复合纳米短纤维增强2024铝合金复合材料。研究了纤维添加质量分数对复合材料致密度、硬度、抗拉强度及延伸率的影响;并探究了芯-壳结构在复合材料增韧中的作用。结果表明:Al₂O₃@Y₃Al₅O₁₂纳米短纤维具有良好的分散性,在超声分散及机械搅拌混粉后均匀吸附在铝合金颗粒表面,无分层及团聚现象;经热压烧结后,Al₂O₃@Y₃Al₅O₁₂纳米短纤维以短纤维形态均匀分散在铝合金基体内,少量添加Al₂O₃@Y₃Al₅O₁₂纳米短纤维起到了桥联和孔洞填充作用,使复合材料致密度和硬度提高;添加质量分数为1wt%时,抗拉强度和延伸率取得最大值,由铝合金的249.3 MPa、2.9%增加到299.1 MPa、4.3%。Al₂O₃@Y₃Al₅O₁₂纳米短纤维的添加可以细化晶粒,阻碍裂纹扩展,且在拔出/断过程中Al₂O₃@Y₃Al₅O₁₂纳米短纤维芯-壳结构的塑性变形起到了增强增韧作用。      

Al2O3–FeCrAl composites and functionally graded materials fabricated by reactive hot pressing

Al₂O₃–FeCrAl composites were fabricated by mixing Fe₂O₃, Al and Cr powders and then reactive hot pressing. The high temperature alloy FeCrAl was formed by the reaction of extra Al, Cr and the Fe reduced from Fe₂O₃. The Al₂O₃–FeCrAl composites with various Al₂O₃ fractions were successfully fabricated by the proper addition of extra Fe, Cr, Al or Al₂O₃ powders. A five-layer functionally graded material of YSZ–FeCrAl was fabricated using the Al₂O₃–FeCrAl composites with compositions of 25, 53.2 and 75 vol.% Al₂O₃ as interlayer. The results from XRD analysis, optical microscope observation and thermal cycling test show that the composites fabricated by this method consist of α-Al₂O₃ phase and (Fe, Cr, Al) solid solution. The α-Al₂O₃ grain formed by this in-situ reaction between Fe₂O₃ and Fe is ultrafine and uniform distribution. The three-point bending strength is 305.0 MPa for the composite with 53.2 vol.% Al₂O₃ prepared by the reactive hot pressing, about 20% higher than that of the composite with same composition prepared by ex situ hot pressing method (252.0 MPa). No cracking was found in the functionally graded materials after 10 thermal cycles up to 1000 °C due to the better metal–ceramic bond, continuous in microstructure at interface of FGM and good oxidation resistance component FeCrAl alloy formed in the FGM.     

Synthesis and characterization of Al-Zn/Al2O3 nano-powder composites

Composites consisting of Al-Zn/Al2O3 have been synthesized using high energy mechanical milling. High energy ball milling increases the sintering rate of the composite powder due to increased diffusion rate. Owing to the finer microstructure, the hardness of the sintered composite produced by using the mechanically milled nanocomposite powder is significantly higher than that of the sintered composite produced by using the as-mixed powder. The mean crystallite size of the matrix has been determined to be 27 nm by Scherrer equation using X-ray diffraction data. The powders have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The effect of high-energy ball milling and subsequent annealing on a mixture of Al and ZnO has also been investigated. DTA result show that the reaction temperature of Al-ZnO decreases with the increase in the ball milling time.     

Slip casting of Al2O3 and Al2O3/ZrO2 composites

Al₂O₃ and Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ composites have been fabricated by slip casting from aqueous suspensions. The physical and structural characteristics of the starting powders, composition of the suspensions, casting behaviour, microstructure of the green and fired bodies and the mechanical properties of the products were investigated. The addition of ZrO₂ to Al₂O₃ leads to a significant increase in fracture toughness when ZrO₂ particles are retained in the tetragonal form (transformation-toughening mechanism) but when microcracking (due to the spontaneous transformation of ZrO₂ from the tetragonal phase to the monoclinic one) is dominant, an excellent toughness value is accompanied by a drastic drop in strength and hardness.     

Oxidation behaviour of SiC-platelets and particulates-reinforced Al2O3/ZrO2 matrix composites

The oxidation behavior of hot-pressed SiC-platelets and particulates-reinforced Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ composites has been studied in an electric furnace at atmospheric pressure at different temperatures. The mass gain as a result of transformation of SiC into SiO₂ is described as a function of oxidation temperature, time and type of SiC. The mass gain up to 1100°C was low, but increased strongly at 1350°C. The oxidation process follows a parabolic rate at all oxidation temperatures. Oxidation of composites containing SiC-particulates is higher than the corresponding one containing SiC-platelets. The activation energy, obtained in the present investigation, was 297–333 kj/mol. Diffusion of oxygen and carbon monoxide through the matrix and oxide products appeared to be the rate controlling process. The reaction products were aluminosilicate glass phase and mullite as indicated by SEM and EDX.     

Material characterisation and mechanical properties of Al2O3-Al metal matrix composites

The mechanical properties of metal matrix composites (MMCs) are critical to their potential application as structural materials. A systematic examination of the effect of particulate volume fraction on the mechanical properties of an Al₂O₃-Al MMC has been undertaken. The material used was a powder metallurgy processed AA 6061 matrix alloy reinforced with MICRAL-20, a polycrystalline microsphere reinforcement consisting of a mixture of alumina and mullite. The volume fraction of the reinforcement was varied systematically from 5 to 30% in 5% intervals. The powder metallurgy composites were extruded then heat treated to the T6 condition. Extruded liquid metallurgy processed AA 6061 was used to establish the properties of the unreinforced material.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Cr3C2 particulate reinforced Al2O3 matrix composites

Al₂O₃ matrix with three grades of Cr₃C₂ particle size (0.5, 1.5 and 7.5 m) composites were fabricated by a hot-pressing technique. Fully dense compacts with Cr₃C₂ content up to 40 vol % can be acquired at 1400 °C under 30 MPa pressure for 1 h. The flexural strength increases from 595 to 785 Mpa for fine Cr₃C₂ particle (0.5 m) reinforced Al₂O₃ matrix composites. The fracture strength is significantly dependent on the fracture modes of matrix (intergranular or transgranular). The transgranular fracture with a compressive residual stress gives a high fracture strength of composites. At the same time, the fracture toughness increases from 5.2 MPa m^1/2 (10 vol % Cr₃C₂) to 8.0 MPa m^1/2 (30 vol % Cr₃C₂) for the coarse Cr₃C₂ particle (7.5 n) reinforced Al₂O₃ matrix composites. The toughening effects of incorporating Cr₃C₂ particles into Al₂O₃ matrix originate from crack bridging and deflection. The electrical conductivity and the possibility of electrical discharge machining of these composites were also investigated.     

Pressureless sintering of B4C whisker reinforced Al2O3 matrix composites

Al₂O₃-B₄C whisker composites have been successfully densified by pressureless sintering. Low oxygen partial pressures, below 10 atmospheres, were determined to be suitable for the composite densification, and the maximum densities were achieved at 1800°C for 60 minutes. The B₄C whiskers were screened classified into five size fractions and the effect of size and size distribution on the densification were studied. The small whiskers with a narrow size distribution (–325+400 mesh) yielded the highest density results. The maximum value of relative densities was 98%, 97%, 94% and 89% at 10, 20, 30 and 40 vol % B₄C whiskers, respectively. Addition of B₄C between 5 and 15 vol% proved to be a sintering aid to the alumina densification via mechanisms other than being a grain growth inhibitor. An increased fracture toughness up to 6.2 MPa·m was achieved in the composites containing 10–20 vol% B₄C whiskers.     

Synthesis of an Al-ZrO2 composite by infiltration of Zr-chelates into an Al matrix

Aluminium-based matrix composites were prepared by infiltration with an ammoniacal zirconium chelate within an Al matrix synthesized via Aluminium powder compactation. After infiltration, this chelate can be transformed in situ by sol-gel method that leads to tetragonal phases in zirconia, which in turn, transforms to monoclinic structure on heating. Based on Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), we confirm the reaction sequence to obtain the tetramer, the phase transformation sequence within the Al matrix, and the development of phases that leads to the synthesis of the Al-ZrO₂ composite.     

三维网络Al2O3增强球墨铸铁基复合材料摩擦磨损性能

采用SRV摩擦磨损试验机研究了球墨铸铁及三维网络Al2O3增强球墨铸铁基复合材料的干摩擦磨损性能,测量了球墨铸铁和复合材料在不同摩擦频率及载荷下的摩擦系数和磨损率;用扫描电镜观察磨损表面形貌,并分析了三维网络Al2O3对复合材料磨损机制的影响.结果表明:陶瓷与金属基体之间具有良好界面结合的三维网络Al2O3/球墨铸铁复合材料,其摩擦系数随载荷和摩擦频率的变化保持稳定;复合材料的耐磨性能远优于球墨铸铁,而且随着摩擦频率和载荷的增加,复合材料的抗磨损性能明显提高.这是由于复合材料中陶瓷与金属相之间三维空间结构和良好的界面结合有利于摩擦载荷的传递;金属基体中的石墨减摩作用保持摩擦系数的稳定;三维陶瓷骨架在磨损表面形成硬的微突体并起承载作用,制约了基体的塑性变形和高温软化,有利于磨损表面氧化膜的留存.     

Synthesis,microstructure and mechanical properties of Al2O3 reinforced Ni3Al matrix composite

A new method to synthesize alumina reinforced Ni₃Al intermetallic matrix composites has been described. The powder mixture of nickel and aluminium was mechanically alloyed. The powder mixture was excessively heated during mechanical alloying and then exposed to atmosphere for oxidation. The oxidized powder mixture was transformed into alumina reinforced nickel aluminide matrix composite on subsequent pulse current processing. Alumina reinforcements were generated in the nickel aluminide matrix by in situ precipitation. The microstructure of the composite showed that the alumina reinforcements were 50–150 nm in size. The fine alumina reinforcements were homogeneously distributed in the matrix phase. The mechanical properties of the alumina reinforced nickel aluminide matrix composite fairly exceeded the nickel aluminide alloys. This novel synthesis approach allowed the rapid and facile production of high strength alumina reinforced Ni₃Al matrix composites.