Fabrication of Al alloys reinforced with AlN particles formed byin-situ reaction

The tensile properties and microstructures of Al alloys reinforced with AlN particles formed byin-situ reaction under a nitrogen atmosphere were analyzed. It was found that AlN particle layers formed on the surface of the Al particles in the powder bed, which replaced the Mg₃N₂ coated layers through the reaction, Mg₃N₂+2A1 → 2AlN+3Mg. The tensile strength and 0.2% offset yield strength in the control alloys were significantly greater than those in commercial alloys. This increase was due to the fine AlN particles formed by the abovein-situ reactions of the Mg₃N₂ formation and its decomposition into AlN. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium “The l^st KIM-JIM Joint Symposium: High Strength Ratio Aluminum Alloys”, held at Inha University, Inchon, Korea, October 22, 1999 under the auspices of The Korean Institute of Metals and Materials and The Japanese Institute of Metals.