Effect of Y2O3 and TiO2 addition of dispersed powder on phase evolution and microstructural analysis of (Al, Cu)3Ti intermetallic synthesised via mechanical alloying and powder metallurgy route

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aluminium-based alloys are the most widely used structural material owing to their lightweight, high stiffness with moderate strength, ductility, and toughness. However, these alloys still have several issues in engineering applications, such as moderate strength, high temperature, wear-resistant, unstable mechanical characteristics, etc. Intermetallics offer tremendous possibilities for the development of advanced novel material with enhanced mechanical properties for aerospace and automotive applications due to the range of reinforcement materials and flexibility in their primary processing. The current research provides a detailed study of the formation of Cu9Al4, AlCu, and AlTi3 intermetallic compounds via mechanical alloying and powder metallurgy route. The microstructural characterisation, compositional analysis, and evolution of different aluminium-based intermetallic compounds with respect to milling time were investigated through field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (×RD) analysis. Microstructural analysis revealed that the elemental powder became fine and homogenous as the milling progressed. In addition, the grain structure is homogeneously distributed with a few enlarged and dispersed phases of Y2O3 and TiO2 in the base alloy. The porosity of the sintered compacts was significantly improved by the addition of 1 wt % each of Y2O3 and TiO2 dispersoids to 60 h milled base alloy.