Preparation and quasi-static compression properties of hybrid aluminum matrix syntactic foam reinforced with glass cenospheres and silicon carbide nanowires

Abstract

Conventional hybrid aluminum matrix syntactic foam with various hollow fillers shows low density and high densification strain. However, its peak stress can hardly be increased, resulting in a limited improvement in the energy absorption capacity. Although composites can be reinforced by adding ceramic nanoparticles, it is difficult to achieve dispersion of both hollow and dense fillers in the metal matrix due to their distinct density difference. In this study, we use silicon carbide nanowires reinforced aluminum swarf as the source of ceramic fillers, and prepare hybrid aluminum syntactic foam reinforced by both glass cenospheres and silicon carbide nanowires. The resulting syntactic foam shows low density of 1.3 g cm −3 , high peak stress of 128.6 MPa, and high energy absorption capacity of 60.70 MJ m −3 . Moreover, we demonstrate a novel way to recycle silicon carbide reinforced aluminum composites for reprocessing. • HASF reinforced with a hollow and a dense nanowire filler. • Glass cenospheres and SiCnw forming high dispersion of microscale domains in HASF. • Reprocessing both metal matrix and SiCnw fillers at the same time. • HASF showing strength of 128.6 MPa and energy absorption capacity of 60.70 MJ m −3 .