A Cu-based bulk amorphous alloy composite reinforced by carbon nanotube

Bulk Cu50Zr40Ti10 amorphous alloy composites reinforced with carbon nanotube （CNT） were successfully fabricated by hot pressing technique. Their density, thermal conductivity, and mechanical properties were systemically investigated. The density and the compression strength of the compacts both decrease with increasing CNT content. The thermal conductivity of the compacts decreases when the CNT content is less than 0.10% or exceeds 0.60% （mass fraction）, while increases when the CNT content is in the range of 0.1%-0.6%. The strain limit and the modulus of the compacts are obviously improved when the CNT content is less than 1.0% and then decrease significantly when the CNT content exceeds 1.00%. The optimum CNT addition is less than 0.20% at the comprehensive properties point of view.

Microstructure, mechanical properties and wear behaviour of Zn-Al-Cu-TiB_2 in situ composites

Zn-Al-Cu-TiB2（ZA27-TiB2） in situ composites were fabricated via reactions between molten aluminum and mixed halide salts（K2TiF6 and KBF4） at temperature of 875 °C. The microstructure, mechanical properties and wear behavior of the composites were investigated. Microstructure analysis shows that fine and clean TiB2 particles distribute uniformly through the matrix. The mechanical properties of the composites increase with the increase in TiB2 content. As TiB2 content increases to 5%（mass fraction）, an improvement of HB 18 in hardness and 49 MPa in ultimate tensile strength（UTS） is achieved. The overall results reveal that the composites possess low friction coefficients and the wear rate is reduced from 5.9×10-3 to 1.3×10-3 mm3/m after incorporating 5% TiB2. Friction coefficient and worn surface analysis indicate that there is a change in the wear mechanism in the initial stage of wear test after introducing in situ TiB2 particles into the matrix.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of in situ TiB_2/7055 composites synthesized by direct magnetochemistry melt reaction

In situ TiB2/7055 composites were successfully synthesized via magnetic chemical direct melt reaction from 7055 （Al-3B）？Ti system. The phase composition and the microstructure of the composites were investigated by XRD, OM and SEM technologies, and the mechanical and wear properties were tested. The results indicate that with the pulsed magnetic field assistance, the morphologies of in situ TiB2 particles are mainly hexagonal-shape or nearly spherical, the sizes are less than 1 μm, and the distribution of the matrix is uniform. Compared the microstructures of the 7055 aluminum matrix composites synthesized without pulsed magnetic field, the average size ofα（Al） phase with pulsed magnetic field assistance is decreased from 20 to 10μm, the array of the second phase is changed from continuous net-shape to discontinuous shape. With the pulsed magnetic field, the tensile strengths of the composites are enhanced from 310 to 330 MPa, and the elongations are increased from 7.5%to 8.0%. In addition, compared with matrix alloy, the wear mass loss of the composites is decreased from 111 to 78 mg under a load of 100 N for 120 min.

In Situ Directional Polymerization of Poly(1,3-dioxolane)Solid Electrolyte Induced by Cellulose Paper-Based Composite Separator for Lithium Metal Batteries

In traditional in situ polymerization preparation for solid-state electrolytes,initiators are directly added to the liquid precursor.In this article,a novel cellulose paper-based composite separator is fabricated,which employs alumina as the inorganic reinforcing material and is loaded with polymerization initiator aluminum trifluoromethanesulfonate.Based upon this,a separator-induced in situ directional polymerization technique is demonstrated,and the extra addition of initiators into liquid precursors is no longer required.The polymerization starts from the surface and interior of the separator and extends outward with the gradually dissolving of initiators into the precursor.Compared with its traditional counterpart,the separator-induced poly(1,3-dioxolane)electrolyte shows improved interfacial contact as well as appropriately mitigated polymerization rate,which are conducive to practical applications.Electrochemical measurement results show that the prepared poly(1,3-dioxolane)solid electrolyte possesses an oxidation potential up to 4.4 V and a high Li+transference number of 0.72.After 1000 cycles at 2 C rate(340 mA g^(−1)),the assembled Li||LiFePO_(4)solid battery possesses a 106.8 mAh g^(−1)discharge capacity retention and 83.5%capacity retention ratio,with high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.5%achieved.Our work may provide new ideas for the design and application of in situ polymerization technique for solid electrolytes and solid batteries.

Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of In Situ TiB_2-7055 Composites

In order to fabricate a kind of high strength particulate reinforced aluminum-matrix composites, the high strength aluminum alloy 7055 was selected as a matrix. Composites reinforced with varying amounts of TiB2 particles were synthesized using the in situ method, and their mechanical properties and microstructure were analyzed. It is found that the in situ TiB2 particles sized from 50 to 400 um uniformly disperse in the matrix. With the weight fraction of TiB2 particles increasing, the elastic modulus as well as the yield strength and the ultimate tensile strength increase, while the ductility decrease. The improvement of strength could be attributed to good bonding between TiB2 and the matrix, and also the TiB2 particles act as a barrier to dislocation.

Preparation of Al-Al_3Ti in situ composites by direct reaction method

Al-Al3Ti composites were prepared by a direct reaction method, in which Al3Ti was formed by the reaction of Ti and Al in aluminum alloy melt. The morphology of Al3Ti changes apparently from the fine particle, needle-like to large block with the increase of Al3Ti content. The addition of magnesium can markedly change the morphology of Al3Ti and reduce their size. Short rod-like Al3Ti was formed and homogeneous distribution was obtained with the addition of 3 wt.% Mg. The effect of Al3Ti and Mg on the microstructure of Al-Al3Ti composites and the mechanism were also discussed.

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.

Analysis of in situ Reaction and Pressureless Infiltration Process in Fabricating TiC/Mg Composites

An innovative processing route, in situ reaction combined with pressureless infiltration, was adopted to fabricate magnesium matrix composites, where the reinforcement TiC formed in situ from elemental Ti and C powders and molten Mg spontaneously infiltrated the preform of Ti and C. The influences of primarily elemental particle sizes, synthesizing temperature, holding time etc on in situ reactive infiltration for Mg-Ti-C system were systematically investigated in order to explore the mechanism of this process. In fabricating TiC/Mg composites, Mg can not only spontaneously infiltrate the preform of reinforcement and thus densify the as fabricated composites as matrix metal, but also it can accelerate the in situ reaction process and lower the synthesizing temperature of Ti and C as well. In situ reaction of Ti and C and Mg infiltration processes are essentially overlapping and interacting during fabrication of TiC/Mg composites. The mechanism proposed in this paper can be used to explain the formation and morphologies of the reinforcement phase TiC.

Microstructure of in situ Al_3Ti/6351Al composites fabricated with electromagnetic stirring and fluxes

The 6351 wrought aluminum alloy and K2TiF6-CaF2-LiCl components were selected as raw materials to fabricate in situ Al3Ti particulate reinforced aluminum alloy at 720℃via direct melt reaction method with electromagnetic stirring(EMS).CaF2 and LiCl acted as fluxes to lower the reaction temperature of the system.It is shown that the electromagnetic stirring and fluxes accelerate the emulsion process of K2TiF6.Optical microscopy,scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrum were utilized to analyze the microstructure and components of composites.Compared to composites fabricated without EMS and fluxes,the sizes of endogenetic Al3Ti are refined from 10-15μm to 2-4μm,which are often accompanied with silicon element.The morphology of Al3Ti or Al3TiSi0.22 exhibits triangle,quadrilateral and other clumpy patterns. Because of the Ca elements from CaF2,the sizes of Mg2Si decrease from 8-10μm to 1-2μm due to the formation of Ca2Si.

Characteristics of two Al based functionally gradient composites reinforced by primary Si particles and Si/in situ Mg_2Si particles in centrifugal casting

Two kinds of Al based functionally gradient composite tubes reinforced by primary Si particles alone and primary Si/in situ Mg2Si particles jointly were successfully prepared by centrifugal casting,and their structural and mechanical characters were compared.It is found that the composite reinforced with primary Si particles takes a characteristic of particles distribution both in the inner and outer layers.However,composite reinforced with primary Si/Mg2Si particles jointly takes a characteristic of particles distribution only in the inner layer and shows a sudden change of particles distribution across the section of inner and outer layers.The hardness and wear resistance of Al-19Si-5Mg tube in the inner layer are greatly higher than that in the other layers of Al-19Si-5Mg tube and Al-19Si tube.Theoretical analysis reveals that the existence of Mg2Si particles is the key factor to form this sudden change of gradient distribution of two kinds of particles.Because Mg2Si particles with a lower density have a higher centripetal moving velocity than primary Si particles,in a field of centrifugal force,they would collide with primary Si particles and then impel the later to move together forward to the inner layer of the tube.

Microstructure and Mechanical Behavior of in Situ Primary Si/Mg_2Si Locally Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composites Piston by Centrifugal Casting

Al-Si pistons are frequently damaged by burning piston top surface due to elevated combustion temperature, and by rubbing the first ring groove against the engine cylinder liner. To prevent piston from these damages, some technologies were invented, such as mounting high Ni cast iron ring around the first ring groove in Al alloy piston body and thermal resistant steel on piston top surface, and fabricating Al composite pistons by squeeze casting for enhancing the whole or local piston performance. In this paper, composite pistons locally reinforced with in situ primary Si and primary Mg2Si particles are fabricated by centrifugal casting. The microstructure characteristics, hardness and wear resistance of the composite piston are investigated and the motion characteristic of the in situ particles in centrifugal field is analyzed. The results of the experiments show that primary Si and Mg2Si particles mix up with each other in melt and segregate at the regions of piston top and piston ring grooves under the effect of centrifugal force. Particulate reinforced regions have a higher hardness and better wear resistance compared with the unreinforced regions and this performance increases after heat treatment. The analysis result of particle movement shows that, primary Si and primary Mg2Si particles move at approximately the same velocity in the centrifugal field, because of the growth of primary Si and fusion after colliding between primary Si particles, which compromised the velocity difference of primary Si and primary Mg2Si particles caused by the difference of their densities. Research results have some theory significance and applicative value of project in development of new aluminum matrix composites piston products.

Microstructure of Cu-based Amorphous Composite Coatings on AZ91D Magnesium Alloy by Laser Cladding

To improve the sliding wear resistance of AZ91D magnesium alloy, Cu-based amorphous composite coatings made of CuaTTi34Zr11Nis and Cu47Ti34Zr11Ni8＋20 wt pct SiC powders were fabricated on AZ91D magnesium alloy by laser cladding, respectively. SEM （scanning electron microscopy）, EDS （energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy）, XRD （X-ray diffraction） and TEM （transmission electron microscopy） techniques were employed to study the phases of the coatings. The results show that the coatings mainly consist of amorphous phase and different intermetallic compounds. The reason of formation of amorphous phase and the function of SiC particles were explained in details.

Erosive Wear and Wear Mechanism of in situ TiC_P/Fe Composites

The base structure of in situ TiCp/Fe composites fabricated under industrial condition was changed by different heat treatments. Erosive wear tests were carried out and the results were compared with that of wear-resistant white cast iron. The results suggest that the wear resistance of the in situ TiCp/Fe composite is higher than that of wear-resistant white cast iron under the sand erosive wear condition. The wear mechanism of the wear-resistant white cast iron was a cycle process that base surface was worn and carbides were exposed, then carbides was broken and wear pits appeared. While the wear mechanism of in situ TiCp/Fe composite was a cycle process that base surface was worn and TiC grains were exposed and dropped. The wear resistance of in situ TiCp/Fe composite was lower than that of wear-resistant white cast iron under the slurry erosive wear condition. Under such circumstance, the material was not only undergone erosive wear but also electrochemistry erosion due to the contact with water in the medium. The wear behaviours can be a combination of two kinds of wear and the sand erosive wear is worse than slurry erosive wear.

Optimization of process parameters for in situ casting of Al/TiB_2 composites through response surface methodology

The mathematical models were developed to predict the ultimate tensile strength （UTS） and hardness of Al/TiB2 MMCs fabricated by in situ reaction process. The process parameters include temperature, reaction time and mass fraction of TiB2. The in-situ casting was carried out based on three-factor five-level central composite rotatable design using response surface methodology （RSM）. The validation of the model was carried out using ANOVA. The mathematical models developed for the mechanical properties were predicted at 95% confidence limit.

Research on development of in situ titanium matrix composites and in situ reaction thermodynamics of the reaction systems

The in situ synthesis method for titanium matrix composites （TMCs） has obvious technical and economical advantages over other traditional methods. Ultrafine reinforcement particles were formed in situ by chemical reaction between elements or between elements and compounds. Using the approach, contamination at the composite matrix/reinforcement particle interface did not occur, interface bonding was good, and the reinforcement particle was thermodynamically stable. The stage of development of the preparation process for in situ TMCs as well as the thermodynamic analysis of the possible in situ reaction systems was described.

Effects of technological parameters on microstructures and properties of in situ TiC_p/Fe composites

The effects of the reactive temperature, time and the cooling rate of an Fe Ti C alloy melt on the microstructures and mechanical properties of in situ TiC p/Fe composites were investigated. The results show that the hardness and impact toughness of the prepared composites increase with increasing the reactive temperature, because more and finer TiC particles are formed in the higher temperature melt. However, after the TiC synthesis reaction in the melt completed, the impact toughness of the composites will decrease if the melt reactive time is further prolonged, owing to the coarsening of the formed TiC particles. Under the present experimental condition, the cooling rate of the melt containing dispersions has little influence on the number, size and distribution of the particles in the composites.

Effect of Ti/B Additions on the Formation of Al_3 Ti of in situ TiB_2/Al Composites

A novel technique for fabricating TiB_2/Al composites in molten aluminum was introduced. The formation mechanism of brittleAl,Ti particulates up to 30 m in size produced in the composites was studied and a method of eliminating them was proposed. The resultsshow that (l) the brittle Al,Ti particulates are always present in the composites when the molar ratio of Ti to B 'T,:nB is l:2; and (2) theformation of the brittle Al,Ti phase can be avoided entirely from the final product by using a proper 'T,:nB of l:4 in the Ti-B-Al preforms.In the former case, the tensile elongation of the composite is only 4%, much lower than the value of pure aluminum (20%). In the latercase, the tensile elongation of this composite is 10%, higher than the value of the composite with a lot ofAl,Ti (4%), whereas the ultimatetensile stfength of the former is nearly that of the later.

IN SITU GRADIENT DOUBLE-LAYER COMPOSITES OF Al-Fe ALLOY BY CENTRIFUGAL CASTING

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Effect of carbon content on microstructure of in-situ Al_2O_(3p)-TiC_p/Al composites

The in situ Al 2O 3p TiC p/Al composite was fabricated by XD (exothermic dispersion) process in TiO 2 Al C system, and the effect of carbon content on the microstructure of the fabricated composite and the reactive temperature characteristics had been studied. The results show that carbon content affects the microstructure and reactive temperature of Al 2O 3p TiC p/Al composite greatly. The quantity of TiC phases in the fabricated composites increases, while the Al 3Ti phases reduces with increasing carbon content. And when C/TiO 2 molecular ratio is equal to one, the Al 3Ti phase nearly disappears. High temperature metallurgical field caused by strong exothermic reaction influences the synthetic reaction greatly, and higher synthetic temperature was favorable to the synthesis of Al 2O 3p TiC p reinforce particles.

Casting fabrication of in situ Al_3Ti-Al composites and their wear behaviors

The Al3Ti intermetallic reinforced pure Al,Al-13Si and Al-17Cu matrix composites were prepared by casting method.Their microstructures and dry sliding wear behaviors at room temperature and 100℃were particularly investigated.The results indicated that the Al3Ti phases in these composites were all in flaky form.But the aspect ratio of the Al3Ti platelets decreased with the increase of Ti content in the pure Al,Al-Cu and Al-Si matrix composites,in order of effectiveness.The effect of Si on the Al3Ti morphology seemed to be greater than that of Cu.The distributions of the Al3Ti platelets were different in the different matrix composites,leading to different grain refining effects.Except for the sub-wear regime of adhesive wear,the plastic deformation induced wear was a dominant wear mechanism for all of the composites at room temperature and 100℃.Increasing the testing temperature,decreasing the Al3Ti content or the hardness of materials could enhance these two wear mechanisms,and thus increase the wear rate.The Al-Cu matrix composite had the best wear resistance,while the pure Al matrix composite showed the worst for the same Ti content.These differences or changes were attributed to the differences in materials'hardness or the strengthening effects of the Al3Ti platelets.