Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Multiscale SiC_p Hybrid Reinforced 6061 Aluminum Matrix Composites

The performance of solid solution aging treatment on aluminum matrix composites prepared by powder metallurgy and reinforced with 6061 aluminum alloy powder as matrix;meanwhile, nano silicon carbide particles(nm Si Cp), submicron silicon carbide particles(1 μm Si Cp) and Ti particles were studied. The Al/Si Cp composite powder was prepared by high-energy ball milling, and then cold-pressed, sintered, hotextruded, and then heat-treated with different solution temperatures and aging times for the extruded composites. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS), X-ray diffractometer(XRD) and extrusion testing were used to analyze and test the microstructure and mechanical properties of aluminum matrix composites. The results show that after the multi-stage solid solution at 530 ℃×2 h+535 ℃×2 h+540 ℃×2 h, the particles are mainly equiaxed grains and uniformly distributed. There is no reinforcement agglomeration, and the surface is dense and the insoluble phase is basically dissolved. In the matrix, the strengthening effect is good, and the hardness and compressive strength are 179.43 HV and 680.42 MPa, respectively. Under this solution process, when the aluminum matrix composites are aged at 170 ℃ for 10 h, the hardness and compressive strength can reach their peaks and increase to 195.82 HV and 721.48 MPa, respectively.

Improvement of high-temperature strength of 6061 Al matrix composite reinforced by dual-phased nano-AlN and submicron-Al_(2)O_(3)particles

Nano-AlN and submicron-Al_(2)O_(3) particles were simultaneously utilized in a 6061 Al matrix composite to improve the high-temperature strength.According to the SEM and TEM characterization,nano-AlN and submicron-Al_(2)O_(3) particles are uniformly distributed in the Al matrix.Brinell hardness results indicate that different from the traditional 6061 Al matrix alloy,the aging kinetics of the composite is obviously accelerated by the reinforcement particles.The T6-treated composite exhibits excellent tensile properties at both room temperature and elevated temperature.Especially at 350℃,the T6-treated composite not only has a high yield strength of 121 MPa and ultimate tensile strength of 128 MPa,but also exhibits a large elongation of 11.6%.Different strengthening mechanisms of nano-AlN and submicron-Al_(2)O_(3) particles were also discussed in detail.

Microstructure and abrasive wear behaviour of anodizing composite films containing Si C nanoparticles on Ti6Al4V alloy

Anodized composite films containing Si C nanoparticles were synthesized on Ti6Al4 V alloy by anodic oxidation procedure in C4O6H4Na2 electrolyte. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) were employed to characterize the morphology and composition of the films fabricated in the electrolytes with and without addition of Si C nanoparticles. Results show that Si C particles can be successfully incorporated into the oxide film during the anodizing process and preferentially concentrate within internal cavities and micro-cracks. The ball-on-disk sliding tests indicate that Si C-containing oxide films register much lower wear rate than the oxide films without Si C under dry sliding condition. Si C particles are likely to melt and then are oxidized by frictional heat during sliding tests. Potentiodynamic polarization behavior reveals that the anodized alloy with Si C nanoparticles results in a reduction in passive current density to about 1.54×10-8 A/cm2, which is more than two times lower than that of the Ti O2 film(3.73×10-8 A/cm2). The synthesized composite film has good anti-wear and anti-corrosion properties and the growth mechanism of nanocomposite film is also discussed.

Effect of CuO particle size on synthesis temperature and microstructure of Al_2O_(3p)-Al composites from Al-CuO system

Al2O3p-Al composites were synthesized using an in-situ reaction in the 80%Al-20%CuO （mass fraction） system. The effects of the CuO particle size on the synthesis temperature and microstructure of the composites were investigated by various methods. The results indicate that the CuO particle size has a significant effect on the temperature at which the complete reaction in the Al-CuO system occurs：the temperature is 200 ℃ lower in the Al-CuO system containing CuO particles with sizes less than 6μm than that containing CuO particles with sizes less than 100μm. The interfacial bonding between Al2O3 particles and Al is not complete when the temperature is below a critical value. The morphology of the Al2O3 particles varies from ribbon-like shape to near spherical shape when the temperature is above a critical value. These two critical temperatures are affected by the particle size of CuO, and the critical temperature of the sample containing CuO particles with sizes less than 6μm is 100 ℃ lower than that of the sample containing CuO particles with sizes less than 100μm.

Particle Removal Mechanism of High Volume Fraction SiCp/Al Composites by Single Diamond Grit Tool

Particle removal mechanism was presented during machining particle SiC/Al composites with diamond grinding tool. The relevant removal modes and their mechanisms were discussed considering the impact and squeezing effect of diamond grit on the SiC particle. The experimental results show that the aluminum matrix has larger plastic deformation, so the aluminum mixed with the surplus SiC particles is cut from the surface. The SiC particles can be removed in multiple ways, such as broken/fractured, micro cracks, shearing and pulled out, etc. More particles removed by shearing, and less particles removed by fractured during material removal progress can produce a better machined surface.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of SiC-particle-strengthening tri-metal Al/Cu/Ni composite produced by accumulative roll bonding process

In this study, a multilayer Al/Ni/Cu composite reinforced with Si C particles was produced using an accumulative roll bonding(ARB) process with different cycles. The microstructure and mechanical properties of this composite were investigated using optical and scanning microscopy and hardness and tensile testing. The results show that by increasing the applied strain, the Al/Ni/Cu multilayer composite converted from layer features to near a particle-strengthening characteristic. After the fifth ARB cycle, a composite with a uniform distribution of reinforcements(Cu, Ni, and SiC) was fabricated. The tensile strength of the composite increased from the initial sandwich structure to the first ARB cycle and then decreased from the first to the third ARB cycle. Upon reaching five ARB cycles, the tensile strength of the composite increased again. The variation in the elongation of the composite exhibited a tendency similar to that of its tensile strength. It is observed that with increasing strain, the microhardness values of the Al, Cu, and Ni layers increased, and that the dominant fracture mechanisms of Al and Cu were dimple formation and ductile fracture. In contrast, brittle fracture in specific plains was the main characteristic of Ni fractures.

Effect of SiC particle addition on microstructure of Mg_2Si/Al composite

In the present study, by adding SiC particles into AI-Si-Mg melt, Mg2Si and SiC particles hybrid reinforced AI matrix composites were fabricated through the Mg2Si in situ synthesis in melt combined with the SiC ex situ stir casting. The as-cast microstructure containing primary Mg2Si and SiC particles that distribute homogenously in AI matrix was successfully achieved. The effects of SiC particle addition on the microstructure of Mg2Si/AI composites were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and XRD. The results show that, with increasing the fraction of the SiC particles from 5wt.% to 10wt.%, the morphologies of the primary Mg2Si particulates in the prepared samples remain polygonal, but the size of the primary phase decreases slightly. However, when the SiC particle addition reaches 15wt.%, the morphologies of the primary Mg2Si particulates change partially from polygonal to quadrangular with a decrease in size from 50 pm to 30 μm. The size of primary AI dendrites decreases with increasing fraction of the SiC particles from 0wt.% to 15wt.%. The morphology of the eutectic Mg2Si phase changes from a fiber-form to a short fiber-form and/or a dot-like shape with increasing fraction of the SiC particles. Furthermore, no significant change in dendrite arm spacing （DAS） was observed in the presence of SiC particles.

Synthesis of nano-to micrometer-sized B_(4)C particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites via powder metallurgy and subsequent heat treatment

B4C/6061Al composites reinforced with nano-to micrometer-sized B4C particles were fabricated via powder metallurgy route consisting of spark plasma sintering(SPS)and hot extrusion and rolling(HER),followed by T6 treatment.The microstructural evolution and mechanical properties were investigated.Results showed that the status of B4C particles changed from a network after SPS to a dispersion distribution after HER.The substructured grains reached 66.5%owing to the pinning effect of nano-sized B4C,and the grain size was refined from 3.12μm to 1.56μm after HER.After T6 treatment,dispersed Mg_(2)Si precipitated phases formed,and the grain size increased to 1.87μm.Fine recrystallized grains around micro-sized B4C were smaller than those in the areas with uniform distribution of nano-sized B4C and Mg_(2)Si.The stress distributions of as-rolled and heated composites were similar,considering that the T6 heat treatment was only effective in eliminating the first internal stress.The Vickers,microhardness,and tensile strength of as-SPSed composites were greatly improved from HV 55.45,0.86 GPa,and 180 MPa to HV 77.51,1.08 GPa,and 310 MPa,respectively.Despite the precipitation strengthening,the corresponding values of as-heated composites decreased to HV 70.82,0.85 GPa,and 230 MPa owing to grain coarsening.

Particle erosion of C/C-SiC composites with different Al addition in reactive melt infiltrated Si

Particle erosion of C/C-SiC composites prepared by reactive melt infiltration with different Al addition was studied by gas-entrained solid particle impingement test.SEM,EDS and XRD were performed to analyze the composites before and after erosion.The results indicate that a U shape relationship curve presents between the erosion rates and Al content,and the lowest erosion rate occurs at 40 wt%Al.Except for the important influence of compactness,the increasing soft Al mixed with reactive SiC,namely the mixture located between carbon and residual Si also,plays a key role in the erosion of the C/C-SiC composites through crack deflection,plastic deformation and bonding cracked Si.

Tensile behavior of SiC_p/2124Al composites with various SiC particle sizes at room temperature

The tensile properties of 2124Al alloy composites reinforced with various sizes of SiC particles were investigated at room temperature. The size of SiC p was changed from 0.2 μm to 48.0 μm with an identical volume fraction of 20%. The results show that the relative density of the composite decreased with increase of the SiC p size from 3.0 μm to 48.0 μm, whereas 0.2 μm SiC p reinforced composite has the lowest relative density. The pore density, interparticle spacing, SiC particle cracking, SiC p/Al interfacial debonding, the distribution of SiC particles, in the composites are considered as factors to determine the failure behavior of the composites. [

Effect of specific pressure on fabrication of 2D-C_f/Al composite by vacuum and pressure infiltration

Carbon fiber reinforced aluminum matrix （Cf/Al） composite has many excellent properties, and it has received more and more attention. Two-dimensional （2D） Cf/Al composites were fabricated by vacuum and pressure infiltration, which was an integrated technique and could provide high vacuum and high infiltration pressure. The effect of specific pressure on the infiltration quality of the obtained composites was comparatively evaluated through microstructure observation. The experimental results show that satisfied Cf/Al composites could be fabricated at the specific pressure of 75 MPa. In this case, the preform was infiltrated much more completely by aluminum alloy liquid, and the residual porosity was seldom found. It is found that the ultimate tensile strength of the obtained Cf/Al composite reached maximum at the specific pressure of 75 MPa, which was improved by 138.9% compared with that of matrix alloy.

STUDY ON Ni_(25)Ti_(50)Cu_(25) SHAPE MEMORY PARTICLE/Al MATRIX COMPOSITE

Ni_(25)Ti_(50)Cu_(25) shape memory particle/Al matrix composite was prepared by hot pressing and further extrusion.The Ni_(25)Ti_(50)Cu_(25) particles embeded in Al matrix still keep B19 and B19 structure,and have a good thermal-elastic martensitic transition with 6K thermal hysteresis,the phase transition temperatures remaining constant during cycling. The scratching force of Ni_(25)Ti_(50)Cu_(25) particle is two times that of Al matrix,When the scratching force is larger than 4.2N, the Ni_(25)Ti_(50)Cu_(25) particle is separated from Al matrix.

Microstructures and mechanical properties of MgAl_2O_4 particle-reinforced AC4C aluminum composites

MgAl2O4 particle-reinforced AC4C based alloy composites were fabricated by the stirring-casting method. The effects of the average sizes and the size distributions of MgAl2O4 particles on the dispersibility were investigated, and the microstructures, strength, and fatigue properties of MgAl2O4 particle-reinforced AC4C based alloy composites were evaluated. Tensile strength in the MgAl2O4 particle-reinforced AC4C based alloy composite was increased by using the classified particles. The fatigue limit at 107 cycles in the MgA1204 particle-reinforced AC4C-Cu composite increased by 27% compared to the unreinforced alloy at 250 ~C. Dislocations were observed in the matrix around the MgAl204 particle which resulted from the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients between MgAl2O4 and Al, and resisted failure and caused fatigue cracks to propagate around the MgAl2O4 particles, resulting in extensive crack deflection and crack bowing which contributed to the improvement of fatigue strength.

Research on the Surface Micro-configuration in Vibration Cutting Particle Reinforced Metallic Matrix Composites SiC_p/Al

The cutting performance of particulate reinforced me tallic matrix composites(PRMMCs) SiC p/Al in ultrasonic vibration cutting and c ommon cutting with carbide tools and PCD tools was researched in the paper. Mic rostructure of machined surface was described, the relation between cutting para meters and surface roughness was presented, and characteristic of the surface re mained stress was also presented. Furthermore, wear regularity and abrasion resi stance ability of tools in ultrasonic vibration cutting and common cutting o f PRMMCs were discussed in detail. The test results show: (1) The surface config urations are obviously different when using different tools to machine such PRMM Cs. The surface machined with carbide tools looks luminous and orderly and there are seldom surface defects on it. The reason is that the soft basal body is apt to flow during cutting, therefore a layer of Al matrix film covers machined sur face. On the contrary, the surface machined with PCD tools looks lackluster. But the profile of machined surface is very clear. Superfine grooves, pits and blac k reinforce particulates can be seen easily without obvious Al film. (2) Because of unstable cutting process in common cutting, the surface is easy to produce s ome defects such as burrs, built-up edges and so on so that the quality of surf ace becomes very poor. Vibration cutting can reduce the influence of tearing, pl astic deformation and built-up edge in cutting and can restrain flutter so as t o make cutting process more stable. Therefore, surface roughness of vibration cu tting is better than that of common cutting. (3) There is an optimum value of fe ed rate in vibration cutting of PRMMCs due to the influence of material characte ristics. Whether feed rate is more than or less than this optimum value, surface roughness will increase. (4) According to analyzing the wear rate of tools in v ibration cutting PRMMCs, it can be concluded that abrasion resistance of tools w ill be improved remarkably when vibration cutting composites have a lower pe rcentage of reinforce particulate. If the percentage of reinforce particulate is higher, the influence on abrasion resistance of carbide tool in vibration cut ting will not be obvious. The research result indicates that vibration cutting effect has a close relation with material characteristics.

Mechanical behaviors of ZL109/Al_2O_3·SiO_2 particle reinforced composites

The squeeze-casting method is utilized to synthesize ZL109/Al2O3·SiO2 particle reinforced composites with 5%,10%,20%,30%(volume fraction) Al2O3·SiO2 particles,respectively. The microstructures and mechanical behaviors of ZL109/Al2O3·SiO2 particle reinforced composites were studied,and the mechanical properties were tested. The results show that Al2O3·SiO2 particles can be homogeneously distributed on the aluminum matrix in this process. The hardnesses of the composites are higher than that of the Al matrix,and increases with increasing the volume fraction of Al2O3·SiO2 particles. The tensile strengths and elongations of the composites are lower than that of the Al matrix,and decrease with increasing the volume fraction of Al2O3·SiO2 particles. The fracture characteristics of the composites has an obvious change with increasing the volume fraction of Al2O3·SiO2 particles on the fracture section,the toughness dens become smaller and shallower,and the tearing ridges and "rivers" pattern appear. The fracture characteristics of the composites become fragile from ductile with the increase of the volume fraction of Al2O3·SiO2 particles. Elastic moduli of the composites have little change compared with the Al matrix.

Al-B_(4)C中子吸收材料的电化学腐蚀行为研究

【目的】研究Al-B_(4)C中子吸收材料的电化学腐蚀性能。【方法】采用球磨混粉-压力成型-真空烧结的方法制备了4种不同碳化硼含量的Al-B_(4)C复合材料,并对材料进行电化学腐蚀试验,腐蚀溶液为5%NaCl溶液。【结果】结果表明:碳化硼含量30%以下时,材料的耐腐蚀性能随着碳化硼含量的增加逐渐增强;碳化硼含量达到40%时,材料的耐腐蚀性迅速下降,且4种材料在各自电位区间发生了钝化现象。【结论】碳化硼含量10%时钝化现象最明显,材料腐蚀方式主要以点蚀为主。

Effects of heat treatment on phase contents and mechanical properties of infiltrated B_4C/2024Al composites

The B4C/2024Al composites were successfully produced by pressureless infiltration method, and the effects of heat treatment on phase content and mechanical properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and mechanical properties testing. The results show that phases of BnC/2024Al composites include B4C, Al, Al3BC, AlB2 and Al2Cu. The phase species remain unchanged; however, the phase content of the composites changes significantly after heat treatment at the temperature of 660, 700, 800 or 900 ℃ for 12, 24 or 36 h. It is found that the heat treatment results in not only considerable enhancement in hardness, but also reduction in bending strength of the composites. Heat treatment at 800 ℃ for 36 h does best to hardness of the composites, while at 700 ℃ for 36 h it is the most beneficial to their comprehensive mechanical properties.

Microstructural and abrasive wear properties of SiC reinforced aluminum-based composite produced by compocasting

The effect of SiC particles reinforcement with average size of 1, 5, 20 and 50 μm and volume fraction of 5%, 10% and 15% on the microstructure and tribological properties of Al-based composite was investigated. Composites were produced by applying compocasting process. Tribological properties of the unreinforced alloy and composites were studied using pin-on-disc wear tester, under dry sliding conditions at different specific loads. The influence of secondary mechanical processing with different rolling reductions on the dry sliding wear characteristics of Al matrix composites was also assessed. Hardness measurement and scanning electron microscopy were used for microstructural characterization and investigation of worn surfaces and wear debris. The proper selection of process parameter such as pouring temperature, stirring speed, stirring time, pre-heated temperature of reinforcement can all influence the quality of the fabricated composites. The porosity level of composite should be minimized and the chemical reaction between the reinforcement and matrix should be avoided.

Microstructures and mechanical properties of BP/7A04 Al matrix composites

The microstructures and interface structures of basalt particle reinforced 7A04 Al matrix composites (BP/7A04 Al) were analyzed by using OM, TEM, SEM and EDS, and the mechanical properties of 7A04 Al alloy were compared with those of BP/7A04 Al matrix composites. The results show that the basalt particles are dispersed in the Al matrix and form a strong bonding interface with the Al matrix. SiO2 at the edge of the basalt particles is continuously replaced by Al2O3 formed in the reaction, forming a high-temperature reaction layer with a thickness of several tens of nanometers, and Al2O3 strengthens the bonding interface between basalt particles and Al matrix. The dispersed basalt particles promote the dislocation multiplication, vacancy formation and precipitation of the matrix, and the precipitated phases mainly consist of plate-like η(MgZn2) phase and bright white band-shaped or ellipsoidal T (Al2Mg3Zn3) phase. The bonding interface, high dislocation density and dispersion strengthening phase significantly improve the mechanical properties of the composites. The yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of BP/7A04 Al matrix composites are up to 665 and 699 MPa, which increase by 11.4% and 10.9% respectively compared with 7A04 Al alloy without basalt particles.

Effect of Al2O3np on the Properties and Microstructure of B4Cp/Al Composites

Aluminum-matrix boron carbide (B4Cp/Al) is a kind of neutron absorbing material widely used in nuclear spent fuel storage. In order to improve the tensile property of B4Cp/Al composites, a new type of nano-Al2O3 particle (Al2O3np) reinforced B4Cp/Al + Al2O3np composites were prepared by powder metallurgy method. The Monte Carlo particle transport program (MCNP) was used to determine the influence of Al2O3np on the thermal neutron absorptivity of composites. The universal material testing machine and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to study the mechanical properties, microstructure and fracture morphology of B4Cp/Al composites. The results indicated that the neutron absorption properties of B4Cp/Al composites were not affected by the addition of nano-Al2O3 particles in the range of 1 wt%-15 wt%. The addition of Al2O3np can obviously reduce the grain size of B4Cp/Al matrix metals thus improve the tensile strength of the composites. The addition threshold of Al2O3np is about 2.5 wt%. Both B4Cp and Al2O3np change the fracture characteristics of the composites from toughness to brittleness, and the latter is more important.