Novel MMC microstructures prepared by melt infiltration of reticulated ceramic preforms

Abstract

Alumina/aluminium composites with an interpenetrating microstructure were made by infiltrating an alumina preform which had the structure of a reticulated ceramic foam. Low density preforms (6% relative density)with porous struts were prepared from a polyurethane suspension of alumina powder which was pyrolysed and partially sintered after foaming. Higher density preforms consisted of ceramic foams with open cells and dense struts. All these preforms were infiltrated with 6061 aluminium alloy using a modified squeeze caster fitted with a vacuum system and fine control of speed and pressure. Such MMCs had a microstructure in which two 3D networks were interpenetrating. One was either a ceramic reinforced alloy (50 vol.-%reinforcement) or a dense ceramic phase while the other was the unreinforced alloy. The microstructure of the preform fitted an established relationship between the ratio of window diameter to cell diameter k and void volume fraction V _p. In addition, a short fibre foam was made to compare with the traditional fibre preforms.     

Fabrication of carbon fibre-reinforced aluminium composites with hybridization of a small amount of particulates or whiskers of silicon carbide by pressure casting

An investigation was carried out on the fabrication of carbon fibre-reinforced aluminium matrix composites with hybridization of particulates or whiskers of silicon carbide by pressure casting. A small amount of particulates or whiskers was uniformly distributed among carbon fibres and the preforms prepared from the treated fibres were directly infiltrated by molten aluminium under applied stress. It was found that the longitudinal tensile strengths of hybrid composites were greatly improved, although their fibre volume fractions were very low compared to those of conventional composites. With this hybridization method, it is also practical to tailor the fibre volume fraction of composites from 60 to 25 vol %, which is not possible in direct infiltration of fibre preforms by pressure casting. The results obtained lead to the conclusion that particulate or whisker additions act not directly as reinforcements but as promoters to improve the infiltration performances of fibre preforms, and consequently to increase the strength-transfer efficiency of carbon fibres. The addition of particulates or whiskers can also improve other properties of the composites, such as hardness and wear resistance.     

Fabrication of aluminium composites reinforced with carbon fibres by a centrifugal infiltration process

Centrifugal-force infiltration was used for obtaining aluminium alloy composites reinforced with carbon fibre by the infiltration of preforms. The lost-wax-casting technique was used during the manufacturing process. Preforms fabricated with different percentages of reinforcement were heated to facilitate their filling with aluminium. Some samples were coated with nickel to favor the reinforcement wetting by the molten aluminium alloy. Composites with volume fraction of reinforcements above 7 vol.% and porosity values lower than 0.5 vol.% were obtained with this technique. The hardness of the composites increased with the volume fraction of reinforcement and the solution and the later precipitation of nickel coating caused an additional hardening effect.     

Fabrication of alumina short fibre reinforced aluminium alloy via centrifugal force infiltration

Abstract

A new casting process for fabricating short fibre reinforced metal matrix composites via the centrifugal force infiltration of fibre preforms with molten aluminium alloys is described. The effect of processing variables, such as pouring temperature, preheated mould temperature, and time of application of centrifugal force, on the infiltration kinetics and resultant microstructure is discussed. Composites having fibre volume fractions of 4·5, 8·0, 12, and 16% were obtained via this method. Comparisons with existing infiltration technology and the mechanical properties of the composite are presented.

MST/2000     

Effect of alumina coating and extrusion deformation on microstructures and thermal properties of short carbon fibre–Al composites

Short carbon fibres were coated with alumina by sol–gel process. Uncoated and alumina-coated short carbon fibre–Al composites were fabricated by gas pressure infiltration process. The effects of alumina coating and extrusion deformation on microstructures and thermal properties of the composites were studied. The results show that alumina coating is effective to improve the quality of the short carbon fibre preform as well as act as diffusion barrier to impede interfacial harmful chemical reactions between aluminium and short carbon fibres, which would increase the thermal properties of the composites. Extrusion deformation can orient the carbon fibres to the extrusion direction to improve their degree of orientation, meanwhile decreasing their aspect ratio. Extrusion deformation has a beneficial effect on the thermal conductivity of the composites. However, its effect on coefficient of thermal expansion of the composites is small because the effects of the improvement in degree of orientation and the decrease of aspect ratio tend to cancel each other somewhat.     

Mechanical properties of squeeze-cast zinc alloy matrix composites containing α-alumina fibres

α-Alumina fibre-reinforced ZA12 alloy matrix composites, with fibre volume fractions ranging from 7.5 to 30%, were manufactured by squeeze casting. The alumina fibres were homogeneously distributed in the matrix and had a planar-random orientation. Mechanical properties of the composites such as hardness, tensile strength, Young's modulus, elongation and wear resistance were measured and the effect of fibre volume fraction on these properties was investigated. At room temperature the hardness, Young's modulus and wear resistance increased with increasing volume fraction of alumina fibres, but the other properties were inferior. At elevated temperature (above 80°C) the tensile strengths of the composites were higher than that of the matrix alloy.     

Production and properties of SiCp-reinforced aluminium alloy composites

A vacuum infiltration process was developed to produce aluminium alloy composites containing various volume fractions of ceramic particles. The matrix composites of aluminium with 9.42 wt%Si and 0.36 wt%Mg containing up to 55 vol% SiCp were successfully infiltrated and the effect of infiltration temperature and volume fraction of particle on infiltration behaviour was investigated. In addition to aluminium powder, magnesium was used to improve the wetting of SiC particles by the molten aluminium alloy. The infiltration rate increased with increasing infiltration time, temperature and volume fraction of particle, but full infiltration appeared at the optimum process parameters for the various volumes of fraction composite compacts. In addition, the microstructure, hardness, density, porosity and wear resistance of the composites were also examined. It is observed that the distribution of SiC particles was uniform. The hardness and density of the composite increased with increasing reinforcement volume fraction and porosity decreased with increasing particle content. Moreover, the wear rate of the composite increased with increasing load and decreased with increasing particle content.     

Studies on carbon fibre reinforced aluminium composite processed using pre-treated carbon fibres

Carbon fibre reinforced Al-12% Si alloy composite has been fabricated by pre-treating the fibres with K₂ZrF₆ followed by molten alloy infiltration and subsequent hot pressing of the preforms. The infiltration conditions were arrived at based on the measurement of tensile strength of the fibres extracted from the preforms. The fibre volume per cent of 20 was found to result in composite tensile strength of about 240 MPa as compared to tensile strength of 100 MPa for the unreinforced matrix. Characterization of the interface revealed the formation of ZrSi₂ and diffusion of potassium and aluminium into the fibre. The interfacial bonding was strong as is evinced by the absence of fibre pull-out on to the fracture surface.     

THE TENSILE STRENGTH AND FRACTURE MODE OF δ-ALUMINA SHORT FIBRE REINFORCED ALUMINIUM ALLOYS

用挤压铸造法制备了Ｓａｆｆｉｌ短纤维增强的系列Ａｌ基复合材料,纤维体积分数为８％～２０％,金相分析表明纤维呈近似二维随机分布,测试了室温及３００℃时基体及ＭＭＣｓ的拉伸强度,并在ＳＥＭ下进行动态拉伸观察和断口分析,在此基础上总结了断口形貌,断裂模式及相应的强度预测公式。     

Cellular arrays of alumina fibres

In conventional short fibre reinforced metal matrix composites, the quest is for a method of processing that will provide a homogeneous and preferably random arrangement of fibres. In contrast, recently developed contiguity models for multiphase composites on the one hand, and finite element modelling of structures on the other, independently predict that the modulus enhancement provided by short-fibre reinforcement can be improved if the fibres are arranged in a cellular structure. Furthermore, provided the metallic phase is continuous, the toughness of the composite may also thereby be enhanced. This paper, which is part of an attempt to explore the question of reinforcement arrangements, presents a method for making ceramic preforms for MMCs in which a polymeric foam is used to position the fibres in cellular array. The polymer is then removed by pyrolysis and the preform of fibres is strengthened by sintering. During high temperature sintering, phase changes and grain growth degraded the fibre. Methods of increasing the compressive strength of the preform by incorporation of alumina particles and by subsequent infiltration are described and compared.     

压铸法制造SiCw/Al复合材料的渗透过程分析

本文深入分析了用压铸法制造SiCw/Al复合材料过程中液态铝渗入SiC晶须预制块中的渗透过程。通过理论计算得到液态铝渗入晶须预制块的临界渗透压不超过2MPa。对不同晶须含量的预制块所进行的模拟渗透过程的压缩试验结果表明,随外力的增加,预制块被压缩的程度增大,从而使预制块的晶须相对含量增大。通过对渗透过程的分析,认为液态铝渗透晶须预制块需要一定时间,因此当外力以较大的速度达到最大值时,液态铝不能完全渗入预制块中,这时预制块将被压缩,导致所得复合材料晶须相对含量提高。研究结果表明,复合材料晶须体积分数主要取决于预制块晶须体积分数和复合压力。      

Optimization of chemical reactions between alumina/silica fibres and aluminium-magnesium alloys during composite processing

An Al-Si-;Cu-Mg alloy reinforced with alumina/silica fibres (Fiberfrax®, alumina/silica ratio=45/55) has been extensively characterized in terms of microstructure, interfacial chemical reactions and mechanical properties. The composite was fabricated by squeeze casting. The above characteristics were measured as a function of (a) calcination temperature of the fibre preform before infiltration, and (b) subsequent composite heat treatment. The main reaction that occurs during the processing of aluminium alloy matrix composites is the reduction of silica in the binder and fibres by magnesium from the matrix. When calcined below 1000°C, the fibres remain amorphous with a coating of porous silica binder. In this condition, the reinforcement reacts strongly with the matrix during heat treatment of the composite. In contrast, at high calcination temperatures (1200°C), the fibres transform partially into mullite and the silica binder densifies; these fibres are somewhat less reactive with the matrix. In both cases, the matrix/reinforcement reactions are very strong during high-temperature heat treatment, leading to a complete reduction of silica in some cases. The degradation caused by chemical reactions adversely affects the mechanical properties of these composites. Therefore, in order to optimize the mechanical properties of this composite, the fibre preform first must be calcined at high temperature, then the composite heat treatment limited to low temperature.     

Fabrication of 6061 aluminium alloy/Al18B4O33(w) composite by using sol–gel alumina binder

Abstract

For fabrication of aluminium borate whisker (Al₁₈B₄O_33(w)) reinforced 6061 aluminium alloy composites, a sol–gel alumina binder instead of conventional silica binder was used for preparing the whisker preforms of the squeeze cast composites. The results show that a sound whisker preform and a uniform composite can be made by this method. Unlike the reactive silica binder, the sol–gel alumina binder is rather stable throughout the entire high temperature fabrication process. Under appropriate conditions, the sol–gel alumina binder can also serve as a thermal barrier for minimising interfacial reactions between aluminium borate whiskers and the matrix alloy. With a binder concentration of 0.6 mol L^-1, the ultimate tensile strength of the composite is as high as 277.6 MPa at room temperature and moderate at elevated temperatures. The tensile fracture of the alumina bound composite shows a mixed mode of dimple fracture and interface debonding.     

Fabrication and squeeze casting infiltration of graphite/alumina preforms

The manufacturing of a suitable rigid porous graphite/alumina preform has been investigated taking into account the influence of the binder type, the graphite/alumina content in the preform and the percentage of binder in water. The preforms showing an acceptable rigidity have been infiltrated with a CuSn12 bronze alloy by squeeze casting considering two different pouring temperatures. The composite quality is strongly influenced by both the graphite/alumina volume fractions and the binder type. The optimal quality has been obtained by infiltrating a Carsil 2000^TM binded preform containing 30 vol % graphite flakes and 70 vol % alumina fibres.     

Tensile behaviour of squeeze cast and forged short alumina fibre reinforced AA 6061

Abstract

The tensile properties of a composite consisting of 20 vol.-% short δ alumina fibres in an aluminium matrix (AA 6061) prepared by squeeze casting have been investigated, before and after 30% reduction by forging. By annealing the composite before forging, a 30% forging reduction could be achieved at room temperature, without crack formation. A reduction in mean fibre length from about 65 to 15 μm was observed but most fibre breaks were filled by matrix. By heat treating the composites after forging, their elongation to fracture was increased to about twice that of a similarly heat treated unforged composite of comparable strength. The improvement of ductility is attributed to break-up of the fibre skeleton structure inherited from the fibre preform. A model is presented that predicts that for these fibres an optimum effective reinforcement is achieved at fibre lengths of about 100 μm, which explains why the reduction in fibre length caused by forging does not result in significant strength loss.

MST/1720     

The fabrication and properties of metal-matrix composites based on aluminium alloy infiltrated alumina fibre preforms

Composites have been produced by infiltrating a porous preform of semi-random short alumina fibres with liquid aluminium alloys, using squeeze-casting techniques. The fibres were wetted by pure aluminium and several different alloys, and sound castings produced. Full infiltration was observed to take place very rapidly when moderate pressures were applied.

The composites produced have been shown to possess enhanced stiffness which is maintained at useful levels at temperatures approaching 400°C; at ambient temperature they were brittle, but at elevated temperatures the strength was significantly enhanced.     

Fracture toughness behaviour of a magnesium alloy metal-matrix composite produced by the infiltration technique

Metal-matrix composites comprising short δ-alumina fibres embedded in an Mg 10Al0.4Zn alloy were produced by the squeeze infiltration process, with a fibre volume fraction of 20%. Tensile, hardness and fracture toughness tests were performed at room temperature on both the alloy matrix and the composite in the as-cast as well as in the T6 heat-treated condition. In the as-cast condition it was found that the composite had a markedly increased stiffness, tensile strength and hardness but slightly lower ductility and fracture toughness than the alloy matrix. Whilst a T6 heat treatment improved the mechanical properties of the magnesium alloy matrix, it adversely affected the tensile properties and fracture toughness of the composite.     

Characteristics of several carbon fibrereinforced aluminium composites prepared by a hybridization method

The properties and microstructures of several high-strength and high-modulus carbon fibrereinforced aluminium or aluminium alloy matrix composites (abbreviated as HSCF/Al and HMCF/Al, respectively, for the two types of fibre) have been characterized. The composites evaluated were fabricated by pressure casting based on a hybridization method. It was found that the strength degradation of high-modulus carbon fibres after infiltration of aluminium matrices was not marked and depended upon the type of aluminium matrix. However, the strength of high-strength carbon fibres was greatly degraded by aluminium infiltration and the degradation seemed to be independent of the type of aluminium matrix. The longitudinal tensile strength (LTS) of CF/Al composites was very different between HMCF/Al and HSCF/Al composites. The HMCF/Al composites had LTS values above 800 MPa, but the HSCF/Al composites had only about 400 MPa. In contrast, the transverse tensile strength of the HSCF/Al composites, above 60 MPa, was much higher than that of the HMCF/Al composites, about 16 MPa. Chemical reactions were evident to the interface of high-strength carbon fibres and aluminium matrices. There was no evidence of chemical products arising between high-modulus carbon fibres and Al-Si alloy and 6061 alloy matrices. However, it was considered that some interfacial reactions took place in pure aluminium matrix composites. Fracture morphology observation indicated that the good LTS of CF/Al composites corresponded to an intermediate fibre pull-out, whereas a planar fracture pattern related to a very poor LTS and fibre strength transfer. The results obtained suggested that interfacial bonding between carbon fibres and aluminium matrices had an important bearing on the mechanical properties of CF/Al composites. An intermediate interfacial bonding is expected to achieve good longitudinal and transverse tensile strengths of CF/Al composites.     

The fabrication of metal matrix composites by a pressureless infiltration technique

A novel technique for fabricating metal matrix composites by the spontaneous (pressureless) infiltration of filler preforms with molten aluminium alloys is described. Numerous reinforcing materials, including Al₂O₃ and SiC of various configurations, such as particles, agglomerates, and fibres, have been incorporated as fillers. The effects of processing variables, such as alloy chemistry, process temperature, and filler material, on the infiltration kinetics and resultant microstructures are discussed. Comparisons with existing infiltration technology and preliminary composite properties are presented.     

Properties of squeeze cast Mg-6Zn-3Cu alloy and its saffil alumina short fibre reinforced composites

In the present work, Mg-Zn-Cu alloy (ZC63) and its saffil alumina short fibre reinforced composites produced using the squeeze casting technique were evaluated for their properties. The unreinforced base alloys and their composites were characterized for their microstructure, hardness, yield strength, impact strength, wear resistance and corrosion resistance. The dependence of the properties of composites was studied as a function of fibre volume fraction. Results showed that the composites exhibited improved hardness, yield strength at elevated temperature and wear resistance in comparison to the monolithic alloy. However, ductility, impact strength and corrosion resistance of the composites were inferior to that of the base alloy. The nature of the base alloy matrix in determining the properties of the composites was discussed based on fractographic analysis.