The Impact of Particle Reinforcement with Al2O3, TiB2, and TiC and Severe Plastic Deformation Treatment on the Combination of Strength and Electrical Conductivity of Pure Aluminum

Tatyana Zhukova,Vladimir Promakhov,Alexey Matveev,Vladimir Platov,Alexander Vorozhtsov,Ilya Zhukov,Alexander Kozulin,Anton Khrustalyov

doi:10.3390/met9010065

Abstract

It has been found that a high electrical conductivity of 63.1%, the International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS), and high mechanical properties are achieved by the initial aluminum alloy after undergoing four cycles of the severe plastic deformation (SPD) process. It has been found that when TiB2 particles are introduced into aluminum and the samples are subject to SPD, the mechanical characteristics of the aluminum alloy are improved. Microhardness (HV) increases from 329 to 665 MPa, yield strength (YS) increases from 38 to 103 MPa, and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) increases from 73 to 165 MPa while maintaining the initial electrical conductivity of cast aluminum without reinforcing particles (53.9–54.1% IACS).

Highlights

Aluminum has a high application value for conductors of different types [1,2,3]
High mechanical properties of aluminum alloys are mainly achieved by applying mechanisms involving solid-solution strengthening and subsequent accelerated aging
This includes the particle-strengthening of aluminum alloys with intermetallic phases such as Al–Sc, Al–Zr, and Al–Cu [5,6,7]

Summary

Introduction

Aluminum has a high application value for conductors of different types [1,2,3]. Pure aluminum without impure metals dissolved in its crystal lattice has the electrical conductivity of 65% IACS.This is because there are no obstacles for the free pass/scattering of electrons in aluminum crystals.Foreign inclusions, defects and atoms of other metals dissolved in the lattice could become such obstacles [4]. Pure aluminum without impure metals dissolved in its crystal lattice has the electrical conductivity of 65% IACS. This is because there are no obstacles for the free pass/scattering of electrons in aluminum crystals. High mechanical properties of aluminum alloys are mainly achieved by applying mechanisms involving solid-solution strengthening and subsequent accelerated aging This includes the particle-strengthening of aluminum alloys with intermetallic phases such as Al–Sc, Al–Zr, and Al–Cu [5,6,7]. This means that high electrical conductivity and high mechanical properties are mutually exclusive.

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion