Enhancing Properties of Aerospace Alloy Elektron 21 Using Boron Carbide Nanoparticles as Reinforcement

Sravya Tekumalla,Ng Joo Yuan,Manoj Gupta,Meysam Haghshenas

doi:10.3390/app9245470

Sravya Tekumalla, Ng Joo Yuan + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app9245470

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Abstract

In this study, the effect of nano-B4C addition on the property profile of Elektron 21 (E21) alloys is investigated. E21 reinforced with different amounts of nano-size B4C particulates was synthesized using the disintegrated melt deposition technique followed by hot extrusion. Microstructural characterization of the developed E21-B4C composites revealed refined grains with the progressive addition of boron carbide nanoparticles. The evaluation of mechanical properties indicated a significant improvement in the yield strength of the nanocomposites under compressive loading. Further, the E21-2.5B4C nanocomposites exhibited the best damping characteristics, highest young’s modulus, and highest resistance to ignition, thus featuring all the characteristics of a material suitable for several aircraft applications besides the currently allowed seat frames. The superior mechanical properties of the E21-B4C nanocomposites are attributed to the refined grain sizes, uniform distribution of the nanoparticles, and the thermal insulating effects of nano-B4C particles.

Highlights

With globalization, modern transport has evolved to play an integral part of the global economy; with the net worth of the automotive industry at 2 trillion USD [1] and the aerospace industry at 2.7 trillion USD [2]
Passenger seats on-board airlines served to gain the most attention as they offer significant opportunities for weight reduction through usage of magnesium-based materials
Since the density of boron carbide is low compared to other ceramic nanoparticles, the overall density is maintained to be less than 1.81 g/cc for the nanocomposites, which is far less than aluminum-based bulk materials and only 4% higher than that of pure Mg

Summary

Introduction

Modern transport has evolved to play an integral part of the global economy; with the net worth of the automotive industry at 2 trillion USD [1] and the aerospace industry at 2.7 trillion USD [2]. It is a significant source of pollution with approximately 13 wt.% of overall greenhouse gas and 25 wt.% of CO2 emissions from the fossil fuel combustion [3]. Passenger seats on-board airlines served to gain the most attention as they offer significant opportunities for weight reduction through usage of magnesium-based materials

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