Fabrication and characteristics of AA6061/Si3N4p composite by the pressureless infiltration technique

The tensile properties and microstructures of AA6061/Si₃N₄ particle composites fabricated by pressureless infiltration under a nitrogen atmosphere were analyzed. In addition, the control AA6061 without Si₃N₄ particles fabricated by the same method was investigated to separate the effect of Si₃N₄ particle addition. It was found that AlN particle layers formed on the surface of Al particles in the powder bed, which replaced the Mg₃N₂ coated layers through the following reaction: Mg₃N₂ + 2Al → 2AlN + 3Mg. Thus, the spontaneous infiltration results from a great enhancement of wetting via the formation of Mg₃N₂ by the reaction of Mg vapor and nitrogen gas. The increased tensile strength and 0.2 pct offset yield strength in the control AA6061 were largely due to fine AlN particles formed by the aforementioned in situ reactions, as compared to commercial AA6061. In the composite reinforced with Si₃N₄ particles, of course, the AlN was also formed through the following additional reaction at the Si₃N₄ particle/Al melt interfaces: Si₃N₄ + 4Al → 4AlN + 3Si. However, this AlN may not contribute to the increase in strength because its formation is compensated by the consumption of Si₃N₄ particles. Consequently, the strength increase of the composite fabricated by the present method is attributed to the fine AlN particles formed in situ, as well as the fine reinforcing Si₃N₄ particles, as compared to commercial AA6061.