Synthesis and Characterization of Al-Alloy/SiC<sub>p</sub> Nanocomposites Employing High Energy Ball Milling and Spark Plasma Sintering

Abstract

This study reports the synthesis and characterization of Al-alloy/SiCpmetal matrix nanocomposite, synthesized using high energy ball milling followed by sintering employing spark plasma sintering (SPS). In the present investigation, Al 5083 alloy powder (15 μm) and 10wt.% SiC particulates (~20 nm) were milled in a high-energy planetary ball mill to produce nanocrystalline Al-alloy/SiC nanocomposite powders. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) was carried out for milled and un-milled powder and it was observed that, as the time of milling increased, the crystallite size of Al-alloy matrix decreased sharply. The average crystallite size of Al-matrix from XRD analysis was observed to be ~ 25 nm after 15 h of ball milling. Ball milled nanocomposite powders were consolidated and sintered employing SPS at a temperature range of 500°C with a heating rate of 300°C/min and the total sintering cycle was completed in 8 min. The mechanical properties were found to substantially increase after sintering employing SPS. Morphology of as received (un-milled) powders, milled powders and sintered nanocomposites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The mechanical property evaluation of the sintered nanocomposite was done by measuring nanoindentation, micro-hardness and compressive strength.