Search Results (7)

Gravitational melt-stir casting produced hybrid nano-reinforcements (β-SiCp) and micro-reinforcements (Bi and Sb) of AZ91 composites. SiCp-diffused discontinuous β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ precipitation with a vital factor of SiC was exhibited at the grain boundary region, formulated Mg₃Si throughout the composite and changed the present Mg_0.97Zn_0.03 phases. The creation of Mg₂Si (cubic) and SiC (rhombohedral axes) enhanced the microhardness by 18.60% in a 0.5 wt.% SiCp/AZ91 matrix. The microhardness of 1 wt.% SiCp/AZ91 was slightly reduced after Mg_0.97Zn_0.03 (hexagonal) reduction. The best ultimate tensile value obtained was about 169.33 MPa (increased by 40.10%) in a 0.5 wt.% SiCp/AZ91 matrix. Microelements Bi and Sb developed Mg₃Bi₂, Mg₃Sb₂ and monoclinic C₆₀ phases. The best peak yield strength of 82.75 MPa (increased by 19.85%) was obtained with the addition of 0.5 wt.% SiCp/1 wt.% Bi/0.4 wt.% Sb. The mismatch of the coefficient of thermal expansion of segregated particles and the AZ91 matrix, the shear transfer effect and the Orowan effect, combined with the quantitative value of phase existence, improved the compressive strengths of the composites with 0.5 wt.% β-SiCp, 1 wt.% β-SiCp and 0.5 wt.% SiCp/1 wt.% Bi/0.4 wt.% Sb by 2.68%, 6.23% and 8.38%, respectively. Notably, the Charpy impact strengths of 0.5 wt.% and 1 wt.% β-SiCp-added AZ91 composites were enhanced by 236% (2.89 J) and 192% (2.35 J), respectively. The addition of Bi and Sb with SiCp resulted in the formation of a massive phase of brittle Al₆Mn. Al–Mn-based phases (developed huge voids and cavities) remarkably reduced impact values by 80% (0.98 J). The discussion covers the quantitative analyses of X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy results and fracture surfaces. Full article

The joining methods of Aluminum matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles (SiC_p/Al MMCs) are a challenge during the manufacturing process due to the significant differences between SiC particles and base aluminum in terms of both physical and chemical properties. Micro-nano brazing filler metal Al-17.0Cu-8.0Mg fabricated by melt-spinning technology was employed to deal with the joining problem of 55 vol.% SiC_p/ZL102 composites in this work. The result indicated that the foil-like brazing filler metal contained uniformed cellular nano grains, with a size less than 200 nm. The solidus and liquidus temperatures of the foil-like brazing filler metal decreased by 4 °C and 7 °C in comparison with the values of the as-cast brazing filler metal due to the nanometer size effect. The maximum joint shear strength of 98.17 MPa achieved with a brazing temperature of 580 °C and holding time of 30 min was applied in vacuum brazing process. The width of the brazing seam became narrower and narrower with increasing brazing temperature owning to the strong interaction between the micro-nano brazing filler metal and 55 vol.% SiC_p/ZL102 composites. The fracture morphology of the joint made at a brazing temperature of 580 °C was characterized by quasi-cleavage fracture. After brazing, the chemical concentration gradient between the brazing filler metal and base material disappeared. Full article

Ultra high-pressure sintering (UHPS) was used to prepare AA6061/SiCp composites with different contents and the effect of sintering temperatures on microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated in this study. The results showed that a uniform distribution of nano-SiC particles (N-SiCp) is obtained by the UHPS method. With the increase in N-SiCp contents, the higher hardness and better wear resistance could be inspected. The interfacial reactions and Al₄C₃ phase appeared above 550 °C. The relative density of composites first increased and then decreased; with the temperature raising it reached 99.58% at 600 °C. The hardness and wear property showed the same trend with the hardness reaching 52 HRA and wear rate being 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ g/m at 600 °C. Besides, the wear mechanism of the composites is mainly composed of abrasive wear and adhesive wear. Full article

The hot deformation behavior of nano-SiCp/Al-Si composites was studied by isothermal compression tests at 470–530 °C and strain rates of 0.01–5 s⁻¹. A strain-compensation constitutive model was developed with a Z parameter and an Arrhenius function, and its accuracy was verified by error analysis. The results show that the flow stress of the composites decreased with the increase in deformation temperature and the decrease in strain rate. The average activation energy for nano-SiC particle-reinforced Al-Si matrix composites was 277 kJ/mol, which was larger than the activation energy for self-diffusion of pure aluminum. The average relative error was calculated as 2.88%, indicating the strain-compensated constitutive equation could accurately predict the hot deformation behavior of nano-SiCp/Al-Si composites. Full article

A new method for flux-free diffusion joining of aluminum matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles (SiC_p/Al MMCs) in atmosphere environment has been developed. Liquid gallium and nano-copper particles were employed as filler metal under joining temperatures ranging between 400 °C to 480 °C, with a holding time of 2 h and pressure of 3 MPa. The results showed that 65 vol.% SiC_p/6063 Al MMCs were successfully joined together. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the presence of Ga₂O₃ at the fracture. Meanwhile, neither copper oxide nor aluminum oxide was detected. The formation of Ga₂O₃ can protect nano-copper particles and SiC_p/6063 Al MMCs from oxidation. The width of weld seam tended to be narrowed from 40 μm to 14 μm gradually with increasing temperature from 400 °C to 480 °C. The maximum shear strength level of 41.2 MPa was achieved with a bonding temperature of 450 °C. The change of the strength was due to the adequate elements’ mutual diffusion and solution, as well as the change of the quantity and morphology of intermetallic compounds in the weld seam, such as Al₂Cu and Cu₃Ga. When the diffusion joining temperature reached 440 °C or above, the leak rate of the specimen remained under 10⁻¹⁰ Pa·m³/s. Full article

The nano-sized SiCp/Al–Cu composites were successfully fabricated by combining semisolid stirring with ball milling technology. Microstructures were examined by an olympus optical microscope (OM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Tensile properties were studied at room temperature. The results show that the α-Al dendrites of the composites were strongly refined, especially in the composite with 3 wt. % nano-sized SiCp, of which the morphology of the α-Al changes from 200 μm dendritic crystal to 90 μm much finer equiaxial grain. The strength and ductility of the composites are improved synchronously with the addition of nano-sized SiCp particles. The as-cast 3 wt. % nano-sized SiCp/Al–Cu composite displays the best tensile properties, i.e., the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and fracture strain increase from 175 MPa, 310 MPa and 4.1% of the as-cast Al–Cu alloy to 220 MPa, 410 MPa and 6.3%, respectively. The significant improvement in the tensile properties of the composites is mainly due to the refinement of the α-Al dendrites, nano-sized SiCp strengthening, and good interface combination between the SiCp and Al–Cu alloys. Full article

Nano-SiC particulates (n-SiC_p) reinforced Mg-8Al-1Sn (AT81) composites with different pre-oxidation parameters were fabricated by powder metallurgy (P/M) process combined with hot extrusion. The effects of pre-oxidization treatment of n-SiC_p on the microstructure and tensile properties of 0.5 vol % n-SiC_p/AT81 composites were investigated accordingly. The distribution of n-SiC_p with different pre-oxidation parameters was homogeneous in the composites. Moreover, it was found that a thin MgAl₂O₄ layer formed at the interface when the n-SiC_p were pre-oxidized at 1073 K for 2 h, while the MgAl₂O₄ layer became much thicker with pre-oxidization temperature increasing to 1273 K for 2 h. After an appropriate pre-oxidization treatment of n-SiC_p at 1073 K for 2 h, the as-extruded 0.5 vol % n-SiC_p/AT81 composites exhibited an enhanced strength. It was found that the yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) increased from 168 MPa and 311 MPa to 255 MPa and 393 MPa compared with the as-extruded AT81 alloy, reflecting 51.8% and 26.4% increments, respectively. The improvement of mechanical properties should be mainly attributed to the grain refinement and homogeneous distribution of n-SiC_p in the composites. Moreover, a well-bonded interface and the formation of an appropriate amount of interfacial product (MgAl₂O₄) benefited the material’s mechanical properties. Full article