Influence of nanoparticles in reinforced aluminium metal matrix composites in aerospace applications – A review

Abstract

The aerospace industry has seen a steady rise in the need for materials with a high strength-to-weight ratio and economic concerns. Although lightweight materials like Aluminium (Al) and its alloys are appealing, but their application is constrained by some characteristics including low thermal stability and high wear rate. To overcome these limitations and improve the performance of aluminium, many researchers have developed various composites made of metal matrix and reinforced with nanoparticles. The basic material's mechanical strength and wear resistance can all be enhanced by the nanoparticles. This paper is a review on inference of various nanoparticles in aluminium composite and the behavioural changes in properties. Aluminium has been used as base composite and its reinforcement is studied by focusing on the stir-casting method for fabrication. The characteristics of Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) can be incorporated into the material and customised depending on the application, opening up countless opportunities for modern material research and development. Furthermore, the challenges of various nanomaterials reinforcement in Al MMCs also discussed.