Effect of Solution Treatment on Hardness and Wear Properties of Nanometric Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Particulate Reinforced Al Alloy Matrix Composites Manufactured by Casting

Abstract

Nanometric Al2O3 particulate reinforced Al alloy Composites bar manufactured by casting were hot compressed to 20% of its height, and solution treated at temperatures of 480°C, 490°C 510°C for 3 hours, then aged at a temperature of 120°C for 24 hours. Wear properties and hardness were investigated by wear tester and durometer, and microstructures were observed by optical microscopy. The result shows that the hardness of Al2O3 particulate reinforced Al composites increases with increasing solution temperatures, while wear loss and friction coefficient decreases with increasing solution temperatures. Microstructure observation revealed that the Al2O3 particulate reinforced Al alloy Matrix composites is of lamellar grain structure and the grain size increases with increasing solution treatment temperatures.