Nanoreinforced Cast Al-Si Alloys with Al2O3, TiO2 and ZrO2 Nanoparticles
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Statistical Analysis
Trial number | Factor | Nano% | Stirring Temperature | Predicted Tensile Strength | Average Value of Measured Tensile Strength | Error | Error% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0% | 600–610 | 157.254 | 155 | 2.254 | 1.45419355 | |
2 | 0% | 700 | 138.756 | 141 | 2.244 | 1.59148936 | |
3 | 2% | 600–610 | 192.754 | 195 | 2.246 | 1.15179487 | |
4 | 2% | 700 | 174.256 | 172 | 2.256 | 1.31162791 |
3. Experimental Work
3.1. Material Preparation
Alloy | Chemical Composition (weight%) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Al | Si | Mg | Fe | Cu | Pb | Zn | Mn | |
A356 | Bal. | 7.44 | 0.3 | 0.27 | 0.02 | 0.022 | 0.01 | Nil |
No. | Al2O3 Weight% | TiO2 Weight% | ZrO2 Weight% | Temperature (°C) | Stirring Speed (rpm) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 600 | 1500 |
2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 600 | 1500 |
3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 600 | 1500 |
4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 600 | 1500 |
5 | -- | 5 | 5 | 600 | 1500 |
6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 600 | 270 |
7 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 600 | 800 |
8 | 2 | 3 | -- | 600 | 2150 |
9 | 2 | 3 | -- | 700 | 1500 |
3.2. Mechanical Testing
3.3. Microstructure and SEM Analysis
3.4. Wear Test for the Al2O3 Nanoreinforced Alloy
4. Results and Discussion
4.1. Mechanical Properties
4.1.1. Effect of Nanoparticles Addition
Reinforcement | γ-Al2O3 * | TiO2 * | ZrO2 * |
---|---|---|---|
Density (g/cm3) | 3.60 | 4.23 | 5.89 |
Crystal Structure | FCC | Tetragonal | monoclinic |
Appearance | White Solid | White solid | White powder |
Young’s Modulus (GPa) | 380 | 244 | 171 |
Average Size (nm) | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Melting point °C | 2054 | 1870 | 2715 |
Thermal conductivity, at 800 °C, W/m °K | 29 | 8 | 5.5 |
Coefficient of thermal expansion (10−6 m/m °K) | 5.4 | 9 | 6.53 |
4.1.2. Effect of Stirring Speed
4.1.3. Effect of Casting Temperature
4.2. Microstructural Evolution
4.3. Wear Test Results
Sample No. | Additions | Weight Loss (mg) | Friction Coefficient |
---|---|---|---|
1 | A356 | 3.9 | 0.4 |
2 | A356 + 1% Al2O3 | 4.0 | 0.361 |
3 | A356 + 2% Al2O3 | 4.5 | 0.385 |
4 | A356 + 4% Al2O3 | 5.5 | 0.430 |
5. Conclusions
- The castings made by adding nano-sized dispersoids using semi-solid route exhibited higher strength and ductility when compared with those prepared by liquid metallurgy rout.
- The stirring speed has a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the nano-dispersed castings. Increasing stirring speed more than 1500 rpm causes reduction in the tensile strength. The alloy stirred with 1500 rpm exhibits the highest tensile strength and elongation%.
- The A356 matrix alloy reinforced with 2% weight of Al2O3 showed the highest strength properties when compared with the one reinforced with 3% ZrO2 weight and 3% weight of TiO2 nano particles at the conditions of 1500 rpm stirring speed at semi solid state temperature 600 °C. In all cases this was not combined with loss in ductility.
- Analysis using scanning electron microscope (SEM) at high magnification shows evidence for the possibility of incorporating and entrapping nano-sized particles within the interdendritic interface developing during the solidification of the dispersed alloys.
- The introduction of varying amounts of nanosized particles to the A356 alloy did not produce a significant change on the wear resistance of the tested hypo-eutectic alloy A356 material with 1% nanoparticles and resulted deterioration after adding 2% and 4% nanoparticles, though a drop in the friction coefficient occurred at 1% addition.
- The options for making nanodispersed cast alloys still meet the challenge of obtaining homogeneous distribution of the nanoparticles.
- Another challenge is quantifying the amount of nanoparticles entering the slurry.
Acknowledgments
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
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El-Mahallawi, I.S.; Shash, A.Y.; Amer, A.E. Nanoreinforced Cast Al-Si Alloys with Al2O3, TiO2 and ZrO2 Nanoparticles. Metals 2015, 5, 802-821. https://doi.org/10.3390/met5020802
El-Mahallawi IS, Shash AY, Amer AE. Nanoreinforced Cast Al-Si Alloys with Al2O3, TiO2 and ZrO2 Nanoparticles. Metals. 2015; 5(2):802-821. https://doi.org/10.3390/met5020802
Chicago/Turabian StyleEl-Mahallawi, Iman S., Ahmed Yehia Shash, and Amer Eid Amer. 2015. "Nanoreinforced Cast Al-Si Alloys with Al2O3, TiO2 and ZrO2 Nanoparticles" Metals 5, no. 2: 802-821. https://doi.org/10.3390/met5020802