Synthesis and mechanical characterisation of aluminium-based hybrid nanocomposites reinforced with nano tungsten carbide and nano tantalum niobium carbide particles

Abstract

Metal matrix nanocomposites are potential light weight engineering materials. Nano-sized reinforcements enhance the properties of aluminium matrix compared to micro-sized reinforcements. Hybrid nano reinforcement exhibit superior properties to Al matrix composites as compared with Al matrix with single reinforcement. Aluminium LM alloys give useful matrix properties as compared with other Al alloy. The present investigation aims to synthesis and characterises the aluminium LM4 alloy matrix reinforced with nano tungsten carbide (WC) and nano tantalum niobium carbide (Ta/NbC) particles. The composites were prepared by powder metallurgy technique followed by compaction and sintering process. The reinforcement ratio varies from 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 wt% of WC and Ta/NbC particles. The micro-structural observations were carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Mechanical properties such as micro-hardness and density of the composites were investigated. On comparison with base alloy, results indicate that increasing weight percentage of reinforcement results in an improvement of 65.4% and 79.2% in micro-hardness for single and hybrid reinforcement composites respectively. Also, it has been observed that an increase in density of the composites as compared with base alloy.