Morphology and Frictional Characteristics Under Electrical Currents of Al_2O_3/Cu Composites Prepared by Internal Oxidation

Two Al2O3/Cu composites containing 0.24 wt.% Al2O3 and 0.60 wt.% Al2O3 separately are prepared by internal oxidation. Effects of sliding speed and pressure on the frictional characteristics of the composites and copper against brass are investigated and compared. The changes in morphology of the sliding surface and subsurface are examined with scanning electron microscope （SEM） and energy dispersive X-ray spectrum （EDS）. The results show that the wear resistance of the Al2O3/Cu composites is superior to that of copper under the same conditions, Under a given electrical current, the wear rate of Al2O3/Cu composites decreases as the Al2O3-content increases, However, the wear rates of the Al2O3/Cu composites and copper increase as the sliding speed and pressure increase under dry sliding condition. The main wear mechanisms for Al2O3/Cu composites are of abrasion and adhesion; for copper, it is adhesion, although wear by oxidation and electrical erosion can also be observed as the speed and pressure rise.

Microstructure and evolution of(TiB_2+Al_2O_3)/NiAl composites prepared by self-propagation high-temperature synthesis

（TiB2＋Al2O3）/NiAl composites were synthesized by self-propagation high-temperature synthesis, and their phase compositions, microstructures and evolution modes were studied. The microstructures and shapes vary with the TiB2＋Al2O3 content in the NiAl matrix. TiB2 particles take a great variety of elementary shapes such as white bars, plates, herringbones, regular cubes and cuboids. These results outline a strategy of self-assembly processes in real time to build diversified microstructures. Some TiB2 grains in sizes of 2-5μm are embeded in Al2O3 clusters, while a small number of TiB2 particles disperse in the NiAl matrix. It is believed that the higher the TiB2＋Al2O3 content is, the more the regular shapes and homogeneous distributions of TiB2 and Al2O3 will be present in the NiAl matrix.

Hot deformation and processing maps of Al_2O_3/Al composites fabricated by flake powder metallurgy

The deformation behaviors of Al2O3/Al composites were investigated by compressive tests conducted at temperature of 300-450 °C and strain rates of 0.001-1.0 s-1 with Gleeble-1500 D thermal simulator system. The results show that the flow stress increases with increasing strain rate and decreasing temperature. The hyperbolic sine constitutive equation can describe the flow stress behavior of Al2O3/Al composites, and the deformation activation energy and constitutive equations were calculated. The processing maps of Al2O3/Al-2 μm and Al2O3/Al-1 μm composites at strain of 0.6 were obtained and the optimum processing domains are in ranges of 300-330 °C, 0.007-0.03 s-1 and 335-360 °C, 0.015-0.06 s-1 for hot working, respectively. The instability zones of flow behavior can also be recognized by the maps.

Preparation of Al_2O_3/Au nano-laminated composite coatings and their oxidation resistance on stainless steel

Al2O3/Au nano-laminated composite coatings were prepared by means of magnetron sputtering. The coating was compact and comprised of nano-laminated Al2O3 and Au layers. High temperature cyclic oxidation test was employed to investigate the oxidation resistance of the composite coatings. The results revealed that the applied Al2O3/Au nano-laminated composite coatings improved the oxidation and spallation resistance of the stainless steel substrate significantly. The mechanism accounting for oxidation resistance was related with the suppression of inward oxygen diffusion and selective oxidation of Cr in the substrate. The mechanism accounting for spallation resistance was attributed to the relaxation of thermal stress by the nano-laminated structure.

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.

Thermal shock fatigue behavior of TiC/Al_2O_3 composite ceramics

The thermal shock fatigue behaviors of pure hot-pressed alumina and 30 wt.% TiC/Al2O3 composites were studied. The effect of TiC and Al2O3 starting particle size on the mechanical properties of the composites was discussed. Indentation-quench test was conducted to evaluate the effect of thermal fatigue temperature difference （ΔT） and number of thermal cycles （Ⅳ） on fatigue crack growth （Δa）. The mechanical properties and thermal fatigue resistance of TiC/Al203 composites are remarkably improved by the addition of TiC. The thermal shock fatigue of monolithic alumina and TiC/Al2O3 composites is due to a ＂true＂ cycling effect （thermal fatigue）. Crack deflection and bridging are the predominant reasons for the improvement of thermal shock fatigue resistance of the composites.

IN SITU PROCESSING OF Al_(2)O_(3) WHISKERS REINFORCED Ti-Al INTERMETALLIC COMPOSITES

In situ Al2O3 whiskers reinforced Ti-Al intermetallic composites were fabricated at ~1200℃ by reaction sintering of cold-consolidated fillets consisting mainly of Ti, Al, and different additives. The phases and microstructures of the sintered composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The process of synthesis was investigated using differential thermal analysis (DTA). The effects of processing parameters and additives on the microstructures of the composites and the development of whisker were examined. It is found that the morphology of the whisker is strongly influenced by the additives, the exothermal reaction process, and the processing parameters.

Kinetics of Oxidation for β-Sialon in Diphase β-Sialon/Al_2O_3 Composite

Non-isothermal kinetic research has been carried out on oxidation behavior of β-Sialon in diphaseβ-Sialon/Al_2O_3 composite at high temperatures. A kinetic formula is established for non-isothermal oxidation process of β-Sialon. The rate of oxidation process is controlled by chemicalreaction at the initial stage and then by diffusion. The apparent activation energies and appar-ent rate constants at different temperatures are determined by treating TG data of the overallprocess.

Effect of hot extrusion on microstructure and tribological behavior of Al_(2)O_(3p) reinforced 7075 aluminum-matrix composites

The effects of hot extrusion and addition of Al_(2)O_(3p) on both microstructure and tribological behavior of 7075 composites were investigated via optical microscopy(OM),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy dispersive spectrometry(EDS),and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).The experimental consequences reveal that the optimal addition of Al_(2)O_(3p) was 2 wt%.After hot extrusion,the Mg(Zn,Cu,Al)2 phases partially dissolve into the matrix and generate many uniformly distributed aging precipitation particles,the Al_(7)Cu_(2)Fe phases are squeezed and broken,and the Al_(2)O_(3p) become uniform distribution.The microhardness of as-extruded 2 wt%Al_(2)O_(3p)/7075 composites reaches HV 170.34,increased by 41.5%than as-cast composites.The wear rate of as-extruded 2 wt%Al_(2)O_(3p)/7075 composites is further lower than that of as-cast composites under the same condition.SEM-EDS analyses reveal that the reinforced wear resistance of composites can put down to the protective effect of the Al_(2)O_(3p) reinforced transition layer.After hot extrusion,the transition layer becomes stable,which determines the reinforced wear resistance of the as-extruded composites.

Effect of MoSi_2 content on dielectric and mechanical properties of MoSi_2/Al_2O_3 composite coatings

Molybdenum disilicide （MoSi2） sheath and aluminum oxide （Al2O3） core blended powders were fabricated by spray drying. A derived coating material was produced for the application as microwave absorbers using the as prepared powders by atmospheric plasma spray （APS） technology. The effects of MoSi2/Al2O3 mass ratio on the dielectric and physical mechanical properties of the composite coatings were investigated. When the MoSi2 content of the composites increases from 0 to 45%, the flexure strength and fracture toughness improve from 198 to 324 MPa and 3.05 to 4.82 MPa-m1/2 then decline to 310 MPa and 4.67 MPa-m1/2, respectively. The dielectric loss tangent increases with increasing MoSi2 content, and the real part of permittivity decreases conversely over the frequency range of 8.2-12.4 GHz. These effects are due to the agglomeration of early molten MoSi2 particles and the increase of the electrical conductivity with increasing MoSi2 content.

Reaction thermodynamics and kinetics on in situ Al_2O_3/Cu composites

The preferred internal oxidation of aluminum in Cu Al alloy was used to obtain in situ Al 2O 3/Cu composites. The reinforcement particles were mainly γ Al 2O 3, some θ Al 2O 3 and a little α Al 2O 3. Thermodynamics analyses show that the chemical reactions are 3Cu 2O+2Al=6Cu+Al 2O 3 or 3CuO+2Al=3Cu+Al 2O 3. A related equilibrium diagram was drawn. The experiments and investigation show that the formation rate of Al 2O 3 was controlled by the diffusion of oxygen in matrix.

Aluminum matrix composites reinforced by in situ Al_2O_3 and Al_3Zr particles fabricated via magnetochemistry reaction

Aluminum matrix composites reinforced by in situ Al2O3 and Al3Zr particles are fabricated from A356-Zr(CO3)2 system via magnetochemistry reaction,and the morphologies,sizes and distributions of the in situ particles as well as the microstructures,mechanical mechanisms of the composites are investigated by XRD,SEM,TEM and in situ tensile tests.The results indicate that with the pulsed magnetic field assistance,the morphologies of the in situ particles are mainly with ball-shape,the sizes are in nanometer scale and the distributions in the matrix are uniform.The interfaces between the in situ particles and the aluminum matrix are net and no interfacial outgrowth is observed.These are due to the strong vibration induced by the applied magnetic field in the aluminum melt,which in turn,accelerates the melt reactions.The effects of the magnetic field on the above contributions are discussed in detail.

Properties of Hot-Pressed Al_2O_3-Fe Composites

Alumina-(0 similar to 20 vol. pct) iron composites were fabricated by hot-pressing of well-mixed-alumina and iron powders at 1400 degreesC and 30 MPa for 30 min. Hot-pressed bodies with nearly theoretical density were obtained for addition up to 10 vol. pct Fe, but relative density decreased gradually with further increase in Fe addition. The materials exhibit a homogeneous dispersion of Fe. Fracture strength of the composites exhibits a maximum value of 604 MPa at 15 vol. pct Fe, which is 1.5 times that of alumina alone. Fracture toughness increases with the increase in Fe content, reaching 7.5 MPa.m(1/2) at 20 vol. pct Fe. The theoretical values of fracture toughness was calculated and compared with the experimental one. Toughening mechanisms of the composites are also discussed.

Influence of Adding Ti Powder in Preform on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al_2O_3p/Steel Composites by Squeeze Casting

To improve the mechanical properties of alumina particulates reinforced steel matrix composite, Ti powder was added into the alumina preform, a 5140 steel matrix composite was fabricated by squeeze casting, and the influences of Ti powder on the microstructure, hardness and bending strength of the composite were investigated, compared with the composite without adding Ti powder. Applied Ti powder and alumina particulates were 10-25 μm and 100-180 μm in size, respectively. Both composites were successfully fabricated, however Ti powder addition increased the infiltration thickness of the composite. In the Ti contained composite, a TiC film in micron scale is formed on the surface of alumina particles, many TiC aggregates are dispersed in the steel matrix without obvious remaining Ti powder. The hardness and the three-point bending strength of the composite reach 49.5 HRC and 1 018 MPa, respectively, which are 17.9% and 52.4% higher than those of the composite in the absence of Ti addition. Fracture morphology shows that the debonding of alumina particulates is eliminated for the composite in the presence of Ti addition. Sessile drop test shows the average wetting angle between 5140 steel and that of Ti coated Al2O3 is about 82.15°, much lower than the wetting angle 150° between steel and pure Al2O3. Therefore, the increase in the mechanical properties of the composite is attributed to the improvement of Al2O3 p/steel interface wetting and bonding by adding Ti powder in the preform.

MICROSTRUCTURES AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF IN-SITU Al_2O_3/TiAl COMPOSITES BY EXOTHERMIC DISPERSION METHOD

In-situ Al2O3/TiAl composites were fabricated by pressure-assisted exothermic dispersion （PAXD） method from elemental powder mixtures of Ti, Al, TiO2, and Nb2O5. The microstructures and mechanical properties of the as-sintered composites are investigated. The results show that the as-sintered products consist of γ-TiAl, α2-Ti3Al, Al2O3, and NbAl3 phases. Microstructure analysis indicates that Al2O3 particles tend to disperse on the grain boundaries. Application of a moderate pressure of 35 MPa at 1200℃ yields Al2O3/TiAl composites with fine Al2O3 reinforcement and a discontinuous network linking by Al2O3 particles. The aluminide component has a fine submicron γ ＋α2 lamellar microstructure. With increasing Nb2O5 content, Al2O3 particles are dispersed uniformly in the matrix. The hardness of the composites increases gradually, and the bending strength and fracture toughness of the composites reach to the maximum value, respectively.

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.

Effects of Y_2O_3 on Thermal Shock of Al_2O_3/TiCN Composites

Thermal shock resistance of Al2O3-TiCN(30%)-Y2O3(0.2%) composite was studied by hot pressing(HP) method at different temperatures. The study shows that thermal shock resistance of the material is determined by its microstructure and reinforced mechanism. According to SEM and calculation of thermal shock, the fractured surface of Al2O3-30%TiCN-0.2%Y2O3 composite is undulate. The residual strength of Al2O3-30%TiCN-0.2%Y2O3 is higher than Al2O3-30%TiCN at 200～800 ℃ after thermal shock. Cracks initiation resistance (R′)and cracks propagation resistance (R″″)of Al2O3-30%TiCN-0.2%Y2O3 composite increases 12% and 5% respectively compared with that of Al2O3-30%TiCN. It matches with experimental results. The addition of Y2O3 forms YAG that inhibits crystal growth, and increases fracture stress, fracture toughness, cracks initiation resistance and cracks propagation resistance. Therefore, thermal shock resistance increases. The fracture work of Al2O3-30%TiCN and Al2O3-30%TiCN-0.2%Y2O3 composites are 132 and 148 J·m-2 respectively.

Effects of Cerium on the Mechanical Properties of the ZA22／Al_2O_3 Composites

ZA22/Al2O3 composites were prepared by means of squeeze casting process. The effects of Ce on the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), impact toughness, and hardness of the composites were studied. The results show that both the UTS and the hardness are improved and the impact toughness is decreased with the increase of the volume fraction of fibers (Vf). After Ce is added ,UTS (Vf>15%) and the hardness are improved at room temperature because of the modification of Ce, but the impact toughness and UTS at elevated temperature are lowered.The filtered action of the fiber preform results in that the influence of the amount of Ce added from 0. 1 wt% to 0. 5 wt% on the mechanical properties of the composites can be ignored.

Al-Si/Al_2O_3 in situ composite prepared by displacement reaction of CuO/Al system

Al2O3 particle-reinforced ZL109 composite was prepared by in situ reaction between CuO and Al2O3 . The microstructure was observed by means of OM, SEM and TEM. The Al2O3 particles in sub-micron sizes distribute uniformly in the matrix, and the Cu displaced from the in situ reaction forms net-like alloy phases with other alloy elements. The hardness and the tensile strength of the composites at room temperature have a slight increase as compared to that of the matrix. However, the tensile strength at 350℃ has reached 90.23 MPa, or 16.92 MPa higher than that of the matrix. The mechanism of the reaction in the CuO/AI system was studied by using of differential scanning calorimetry（DSC） and thermodynamic calculation. The reaction between CuO and Al involves two steps. First, CuO reacts with Al to form Cu20 and Al2O3 at the melting temperature of the matrix alloy, and second, Cu20 reacts with Al to form Cu and Al2O3 at a higher temperature. At ZL109 casting temperature of 750- 780 ℃, the second step can also take place because of the effect of exothermic reaction of the first step.

Microstructure and Tribological Behavior of Al2O3 Particle Reinforced Al Matrix Composites Fabricated by Spark Plasma Sintering

Nanoparticles and microparticles reinforced Al matrix composites were fabricated by spark plasma sintering, and the microstructure and tribological properties were investigated systemically. The nano-Al2O3 particle and micro-Al2O3 particle uniformly dispersed in Al matrix composites. The introduction of nanoparticles is beneficial to the decrease of friction coefficient and wear rate, while microparticles are responsible to the high friction coefficient, resulting in the abrasive wear. With the introduction of both nanoparticles and microparticles, their synergic effect will lead to the variation of tribological behavior.