The effect of sintering temperature on some properties of Cu-SiC composite

Copper matrix composites reinforced with 1 wt.%, 2 wt.%, 3 wt.% and 5 wt.% SiC particles were fabricated by powder metallurgy method. Cu and Cu-SiC powder mixtures were compacted with a compressive force of 280 MPa and sintered in an open atmospheric furnace at 900-950 °C for 2 h. Within the furnace compacted samples were embedding into the graphite powder. The presence of Cu and SiC components in composites was verified by XRD analysis. Optical and SEM studies showed that Cu-SiC composites have a uniform microstructure in which silicon carbide particles are distributed uniformly in the copper matrix. The results of the study on mechanical and electrical conductivity properties of Cu-SiC composites indicated that with increasing SiC content (wt.%), hardness increased, but relative density and electrical conductivity decreased. The highest electrical conductivity of 98.8% IACS and relative density of 98.2% were obtained for the Cu-1 wt.%SiC composite sintered at 900 °C and this temperature was defined as the optimum sintering temperature.     

Densification and mechanical properties of fine-grained Al2O3-ZrO2 composites consolidated by spark plasma sintering

Alumina matrix composites containing 5 and 10 wt% of ZrO₂ were sintered under 100 MPa pressure by spark plasma sintering process. Alumina powder with an average particle size of 600 nm and yttria-stabilized zirconia with 16 at% of Y₂O₃ and with a particle size of 40 nm were used as starting materials. The influence of ZrO₂ content and sintering temperature on microstructures and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. All samples could be fully densified at a temperature lower than 1400 °C. The microstructure analysis indicated that the alumina grains had no significant growth (alumina size controlled in submicron level 0.66-0.79 μm), indicating that the zirconia particles provided a hindering effect on the grain growth of alumina. Vickers hardness and fracture toughness of composites increased with increasing ZrO₂ content, and the samples containing 10 wt% of ZrO₂ had the highest Vickers hardness of 18 GPa (5 kg load) and fracture toughness of 5.1 MPa m^1/2.     

Influence of powder particle injection velocity on the microstructure of Al-12Si/SiCp coatings produced by laser cladding

The influence of powder particle injection velocity on the microstructure of coatings consisting of an Al-Si matrix reinforced with SiC particles prepared by laser cladding from mixtures of powders of Al-12 wt.% Si alloy and SiC was investigated both experimentally and by modeling. At low injection velocities SiC particles react with the molten aluminum alloy. Only a small fraction of SiC remains in the microstructure, which contains large amounts of particles of the reaction products Al₄SiC₄ and Si dispersed in the α-Al + Si eutectic matrix. By contrast, at high injection velocities chemical reactions between SiC and molten aluminum are almost entirely suppressed and the resulting microstructure consists only of SiC particles dispersed in the matrix. To investigate whether this behavior could be explained by the different temperatures reached by the injected particles as they fly through the laser beam, a physical-mathematical model describing the interaction between the laser beam and the powder stream in the off-axis blown powder laser cladding process was developed and applied to calculate the temperature attained by the powder particles as a result of their interaction with an Nd:YAG laser beam (λ = 1.06 µm). At an injection velocity of 1 m/s the maximum temperature attained by SiC and Al-12Si particles is 3150 and 180 ºC, respectively. This result demonstrates that particle injection velocity is a major parameter affecting the microstructure of coatings produced by laser cladding, and must be carefully controlled.     

Synthesis and consolidation of TiN/TiB2 ceramic composites via reactive spark plasma sintering

The simultaneous synthesis and densification of TiN/TiB₂ ceramic composites via reactive spark plasma sintering (RSPS) was investigated. Different component ratios (TiH₂/BN (TiN, B)) and heating rates (112.5-300 °C/min) were used to initiate the chemical reaction for TiN/TiB₂ synthesis. The omit RSPS process was revealed to have three stages, which are described separately. The relationships between the RSPS conditions, the microstructure and the properties of sintered ceramic composites were established. A Vickers hardness of 16-25 GPa and a fracture toughness of 4-6.5 MPa m^1/2 were measured for various compositions. Sintered ceramic composites containing 36 wt% TiB₂ with the highest relative density of 97.4 ± 0.4% and an average grain size of 150-550 nm have been obtained.     

Microstructure and wear studies of laser clad Al-Si/SiC(p) composite coatings

Coatings of a composite material consisting of an Al-Si matrix reinforced with SiC particles were produced by laser cladding on UNS A03560 cast Al-alloy substrates from mixtures of powders of Al-12 wt.% Si alloy and SiC. The influence of the processing parameters on the microstructure and abrasive wear resistance of the coatings was studied. For an interaction time of 0.08 s and a power density of 330 MW/m², corresponding to a specific energy of 26 MJ/m², the interaction between SiC and liquid Al is limited and the reinforcement particles remain essentially undissolved. The coating's microstructure is formed of SiC particles dispersed in a matrix consisting of primary α-Al dendrites and interdendritic α-Al + Si eutectic. For interaction times of 0.3 and 0.45 s and a power density of 193 MW/m², corresponding to specific energies of 58 and 87 MJ/m², SiC reacts with molten Al and partially dissolves. The resulting microstructure consists of undissolved SiC particles, found mainly at the bottom of the clad tracks, where the maximum temperature reached during processing is lower, and Al₄SiC₄ and Si particles dispersed in a matrix of α-Al + Si eutectic. The coatings prepared with higher specific energy (58 MJ/m²) present a hardness of 250 V and an abrasive wear rate in three-body abrasion tests with SiC as abrasive of 1.7 × 10^− 4 mm³/m, while those produced with 26 MJ/m² present a hardness of 120 V and a wear rate of 0.43 × 10^− 4 mm³/m. These results show that Al₄SiC₄ and Si increase the hardness of the material by dispersion hardening but do not contribute to its abrasive wear resistance, because they are softer than the abrasive particles, and confirm that the parameters used to prepare Al-Si-SiC composite coatings by laser cladding must be selected so that only minimal reactions occur between SiC and molten Al.     

Si3N4(p)/SiC(w)协同复合MoSi2材料的强韧化及机理研究

采用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、维氏硬度计、电子万能材料试验机研究MoSi_2-Si_3N_(4(p))/SiC_(w)复合材料的结构、形貌、硬度、断裂韧性,并对SiC晶须和Si_3N_4颗粒复合强韧化MoSi_2的机理进行了探讨.结果表明,SiC晶须和Si_3N_4颗粒对MoSi_2具有协同强韧化作用,MoSi_2-20%Si_3N_(4(p))-20%SiC_(w)(体积分数,下同)复合材料的抗弯强度达427 MPa,室温断裂韧性达到10.4 MPa·m~(1/2),均高于单一强韧化剂的强韧化效果.MoSi_2-20%Si_3N_(4(p))-20%SiC_(w)复合材料的强化机理为细晶强化和弥散强化;韧化机制为细晶韧化、裂纹偏转与分支和微桥接韧化.     

Fe_(50-x/2)Al_(50-x/2)Cr_x体系掺杂钨精矿粉激光烧结合金组织及性能研究

以Fe_(50-x/2)Al_(50-x/2)Cr_x(x=4,8,12,16)体系粉末为基体,掺杂1%(质量分数)的钨精矿粉末,压制成坯。利用激光引燃自蔓延烧结制备原位自生颗粒增强复合材料。采用OLYMPUS4000、XRD等微观组织结构表征手段及合金硬度、磨损性能等宏观力学性能及腐蚀性能测试方法,研究不同Cr粉含量对烧结合金组织及性能的影响。结果表明:烧结合金物相主要为Fe_3Al,Al_2O_3,AlCrFe_2,Cr_2O_3及硬质颗粒相W。当Cr含量为8%时,烧结合金内部针状组织细小致密,物相有较好的分散性;磨损率相对较低,为0.38 mg/mm~2。当Cr含量为12%时,烧结合金硬度最高,为11 450 MPa;自腐蚀电位最大,为327.643 mV;腐蚀电流密度最小,为1.044 m A·cm~(-2),腐蚀速率最低。     

Effects of SiC Particle Size and Process Parameters on the Microstructure and Hardness of AZ91/SiC Composite Layer Fabricated by FSP

In this study, friction stir processing (FSP) was employed to develop a composite layer on the surface of as-cast AZ91 magnesium alloy using SiC particles (5 μm and 30 nm). The effects of the rotational and traverse speeds and the FSP pass number on the microstructure and microhardness of the friction stir processed (FSPed) layer with and without SiC particles were investigated. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed for microstructural analysis. FSP produces a homogeneous microstructure by eliminating the precipitates near the grain boundaries. The analyses showed that the effects of the rotational and traverse speeds on the microstructure of specimens produced without nano-sized SiC particles are considerable; however, they are negligible in the specimens with particles. While the second FSP pass enhances the microstructure and microhardness of the samples with SiC particles, it has no significant effect on such properties in the samples without SiC particles.     

Effect of second-phase particle size and presence of vibration on AZ91/SiC surface composite layer produced by FSP

An improved method of friction stir processing (FSP) was introduced for the processing of AZ91 magnesium alloy specimens. This novel process was called “friction stir vibration processing (FSVP)”. FSP and FSVP were utilized to develop surface composites on the studied alloy while SiC nanoparticles were applied as second-phase particles. The effect of reinforcing SiC particles with different sizes (30 and 300 nm) on different characteristics of the composite surface was studied. The results indicated that the microstructure was refined and mechanical properties such as hardness, ductility, and strength were enhanced as FSVP was applied. Furthermore, it was concluded that the effect of reinforcing particles with a size of 30 nm on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the surface composite was more obvious than that of particles with a size of 300 nm. It was also found that mechanical properties and microstructure of FSV-processed specimens were improved as vibration frequency increased. The hardness value in the stir zone was about 157 MPa for the FSV-processed specimen at a vibration frequency of 50 Hz, while this value was around 116 MPa for the FSV-processed specimen at a vibration frequency of 25 Hz.     

Si粉粒径及其添加量对SiC陶瓷材料结构和性能的影响

将平均粒径为75 μm和48 μm、质量分数为0%~8%的Si粉分别添加到SiC陶瓷材料中,在1550℃下保温3 h烧成,研究Si粉粒径及其添加量对SiC陶瓷材料烧结性能、力学性能和显微结构的影响。结果表明:添加不同粒径及质量分数的Si粉可改善SiC陶瓷材料的显微结构,提高其烧结性能和力学性能;在一定范围内,较小粒径的Si粉更有利于形成均匀、致密的SiC烧结体,大幅提升SiC陶瓷材料的性能;当Si粉粒径为48 μm且添加的质量分数为4%时,SiC陶瓷材料的烧结性能和力学性能较优,其体积密度和显气孔率分别为2.58 g/cm3和13.5%,抗弯强度和洛氏硬度分别为25 MPa和115 HRB。      

Modification of thermally sprayed cemented carbide layer by friction stir processing

The modification of a thermally sprayed cemented carbide (WC-CrC-Ni) layer by friction stir processing (FSP) was studied. The cemented carbide layer was successfully modified using a sintered cemented carbide (WC-Co) tool. The defects in the cemented carbide layer disappeared and the hardness of the cemented carbide layer increased to ∼ 2000 HV, which was about 1.5 times higher than that of the as-sprayed cemented carbide layer. Additionally, the cemented carbide layer was bonded to the SKD61 (Nominal composition: 0.35-0.42 mass% C, 0.8-1.2 mass% Si, 0.25-0.5 mass% Mn, 4.8-5.5 mass% Cr, 1.0-1.5 mass% Mo, 0.8-1.2 mass% V, balance Fe) substrate by diffusion of the metallic elements and the distortion of the coating-substrate interface producing a mechanical interlocking effect.     

反复塑性变形对SiC_p/AZ31镁基复合材料组织和性能的影响

采用反复塑性变形(RPW)技术,结合挤压工艺制备出SiC颗粒增强AZ31镁基复合材料,研究了循环次数(RPW次数)对SiC_p/AZ31镁基复合材料显微组织和性能的影响.结果表明,反复塑性变形具有明显的AZ31基体晶粒细化、SiC_p细化和分散作用,能显著提高SiC_p/AZ31复合材料的抗拉强度和硬度,并改善其塑性.在SiC_p的体积分数为4%时,经RPW为300次的热挤压后,AZ31基体晶粒粒径达到最小值20 μm,SiC_p被粉碎成3 μm以下的微粒,且弥散分布于合金基体中,复合材料的室温抗拉强度和硬度(HV)达到或接近最大值,分别为359 MPa和107.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of magnesium composites prepared by spark plasma sintering technology

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) technology was used to determine the appropriate conditions for SPS sintering of commercially pure magnesium as well as the magnesium alloy AZ31. It was found that the sintering temperatures of 585 °C and 552 °C were the most suitable sintering temperatures for the magnesium and the AZ31 alloy, respectively. Magnesium matrix and AZ31 alloy matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles were then successfully fabricated by the SPS method at sintering temperatures of 585 °C and 552 °C, respectively. A uniform distribution of SiC particles was observed along the boundary between matrix particles. The mechanical properties, i.e. hardness and tensile strength increased with increasing SiC content up to 10 wt%. However, when the SiC content was larger than 10 wt%, the tensile strength decreased due to the agglomeration of SiC particles. The agglomeration of SiC particles was found to lead to the degradation of the interfacial bonding strength between matrix and reinforcement.     

Thermal shock resistance of ZrC matrix ceramics

A ZrC-20 vol% SiC based ceramic matrix composite containing 10 vol% graphite flake was fabricated by hot press sintering. The thermal shock resistance of the materials was investigated through the water-quench method and subsequent three-point bend testing of flexural strength diminution. The ZrC-20 vol% SiC composite containing 10 vol% graphite flake exhibited higher critical temperature difference and higher residual ratio of strength compared with that of ZrC-20 vol% SiC composite. It is the main reason that addition of the graphite flake provides a weak interface into the material which acts to deflect propagating cracks, and the bridging of the cracks occurred. Meanwhile, a laminar structure of the graphite flake would relax the interface stress by sliding of interlayers and provide favorable sites for the dissipation of energy associated with crack growth during fracture.     

Fabrication of A356 composite reinforced with micro and nano Al2O3 particles by a developed compocasting method and study of its properties

Aluminum/alumina composites are used in automotive and aerospace industries due to their low density and good mechanical strength. In this study, compocasting was used to fabricate aluminum-matrix composite reinforced with micro and nano-alumina particles. Different weight fractions of micro (3, 5 and 7.5 wt.%) and nano (1, 2, 3 and 4 wt.%) alumina particles were injected by argon gas into the semi-solid state A356 aluminum alloy and stirred by a mechanical stirrer with different speeds of 200, 300 and 450 rpm. The microstructure of the composite samples was investigated by Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Also, density and hardness variation of micro and nano composites were measured. The microstructure study results revealed that application of compocasting process led to a transformation of a dendritic to a nondendritic structure of the matrix alloy. The SEM micrographs revealed that Al₂O₃ nano particles were surrounded by silicon eutectic and inclined to move toward inter-dendritic regions. They were dispersed uniformly in the matrix when 1, 2 and 3 wt.% nano Al₂O₃ or 3 and 5 wt.% micro Al₂O₃ was added, while, further increase in Al₂O₃ (4 wt.% nano Al₂O₃ and 7.5 wt.% micro Al₂O₃) led to agglomeration. The density measurements showed that the amount of porosity in the composites increased with increasing weight fraction and speed of stirring and decreasing particle size. The hardness results indicated that the hardness of the composites increased with decreasing size and increasing weight fraction of particles.     

The effect of (ZrB2-SiC) addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of NbMo-matrix composites fabricated by hot-pressing

The effects of (0–60%) vol% (70 vol% ZrB₂ + 30 vol% SiC) additions on microstructure and properties of NbMo substrate fabricated by hot-pressing were studied at room temperature. Types of formed phase were decided by the amount of ZrB₂ and SiC additives. The effective eutectic phase was observed in 15 vol% (70 vol% ZrB₂ + 30 vol% SiC)-NbMo, which was attributed to the addition of SiC. 30 vol% (70 vol% ZrB₂ + 30 vol% SiC)-NbMo had the highest relative density of 98.69%. Compared with x ZrB₂-NbMo composites, the addition of SiC could further improve the hardness of NbMo_ss in x (70% ZrB₂ + 30% SiC)-NbMo when the value of x was same, and NbMo_ss in 60 vol% (70 vol% ZrB₂ + 30 vol% SiC)-NbMo had the highest hardness of 6.82 GPa. Only the 15 vol% (70 vol% ZrB₂ + 30 vol% SiC) addition could improve the compressive strength of NbMo matrix. The reasons for the low strength of 30, 45, 60 vol% (70% ZrB₂ + 30% SiC)-NbMo were the lack of ductile phase and the large amount of hard phase production.     

Aluminum-silicon carbide coatings by plasma spraying

An aluminum base composite (Al-SiC) powder has been developed for producing plasma sprayed coatings on Al and other metallic substrates. The composite powders were prepared by mechanical alloying of 6061 Al alloy with SiC particles. The concentration of SiC was varied between 20 and 75 vol%, and the size of the reinforcement was varied from 8 to 37 μm in the Al-50 vol% SiC composites. The 44 to 140 μm composite powders were sprayed using an axial feed plasma torch. Adhesion strength of the coatings to their substrates were found to decrease with increasing SiC content and with decreasing SiC particle sizes. The increase in the SiC content and decrease in particle size improved the erosive wear resistance of the coatings. The abrasive wear resistance was found to improve with the increase in SiC particle size and with the SiC content in the composite coatings.     

SiC颗粒弥散强韧化Si3N4陶瓷刀具材料

对ＳｉＣ颗粒弥散强度韧化氮化硅陶瓷刀具材料的组成,结构及性能进行了研究,结果表明,ＳｉＣ颗粒的加入使材料的温度,韧性及硬度匀比纯Ｓｉ３Ｎ４陶瓷有显著提高,通过对其显微结构的分析,发现ＳｉＣ颗粒的加入使材料的显微结构明显改善能有效地阻止β－Ｓｉ３Ｎ４晶粒的异常生长,有利于形成的均匀细小的组织结构,同时,对ＳｉＣ颗粒在Ｓｉ３Ｎ４基体中的增韧机理进行了探讨。     

Fabrication of nanostructured tool steel layer by combination of laser cladding and friction stir processing

A general fabrication process of the nanostructured tool steel layer with various carbide particles was developed by a combination of laser cladding and friction stir processing (FSP). The dendritic carbides formed by the laser cladding were crushed to carbide nanoparticles during the FSP, and were uniformly dispersed in the iron matrix. The shape and size of the carbide particles could be controlled by the conditions of the laser cladding and the FSP. The nanostructured tool steel layer formed by the laser and the FSP under the optimized conditions had a microhardness of ~ 900 HV which was higher than that of conventional tool steels.     

Sinter and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) reinforced ZTA nanocomposite: Microstructure and fracture toughness

This work describes the microstructure and fracture toughness of zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) nanocomposite in which multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and nanosized ZrO₂ particles were used as reinforcement. The ZTA nanocomposites with additions of 0, 0.005, and 0.01 wt.% MWCNTs and 2 wt.% nanosized ZrO₂ particles were pressureless sintered in an anti-oxidant sagger with graphite powder bed at 1520 °C during 1 h in air and then HIPed at 1475 °C in argon atmosphere 1 h at a pressure of 150 MPa. Relative densities ranging 94–98% were reached. In HIPed composites the hardness and fracture toughness values were increased up to ∼17% and ∼37%, respectively, compared to the “as sintered” composites free of carbon nanotubes. A combined fracture mode, crack deflection, pull-outs of a small amount of carbon nanotubes, and bridging effect were the mechanisms leading to the improvement in fracture toughness.