Superb high-temperature strength of aluminum-based nanocomposite with supra-nano stacking faults/twins

Abstract

Improving high-temperature mechanical properties of Al-based materials is highly desired due to the significant decrease in strength of these materials as temperature is over 473 K, which limits their high-temperature applications. Here, we report a novel nanoparticles reinforced Al-based nanocomposite containing supra-nano stacking faults/twins fabricated via high energy ball milling followed by supersolidus liquid phase hot pressing. The strength of the nanocomposite is as high as 310 MPa at 673 K, which is at least ~2.5 times higher than that of Al-based materials ever reported. The record-high mechanical improvement may arises from the formation of semi-coherent interface between nanoparticles and Al matrix, along with large amounts of supra-nano stacking faults/twins in the matrix.