Design and microstructural evolution, mechanical and physical properties of fine particles reinforced aluminium matrix composites

Abstract

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are used widely in aeronautical and automotive engineering applications due to their improved properties such as elastic modulus, hardness, tensile strength with low-cost production and also they show very well wear resistance combined with significant performance indices regarding to conventional and/or unreinforced alloys. The present paper aims at investigating the design, manufacturing and characterisation of such composites. For this aim, low-cost design concepts of MMCs were developed for the good mechanical and physical properties and also suggested an alternative new design concept of these composite materials. The composites proposed in this study are manufactured by the reinforcement of fine boron-silica niobium aluminate (Nb2Al) in the aluminium matrix. The mechanical properties were evaluated by using drop weight test, compression tests, etc. Microstructural characterisation was made for the checking of the reinforcements dispersed homogeneously in the matrix and also to evaluate the interface between the matrix and reinforcements. Specially, fracture surfaces were analysed in the scanning electron microscope.