Abstract
Nano-ceramic particles are generally difficult to add into molten metal because of poor wettability. Nano-SiC particles reinforced A356 aluminum alloy composites were prepared by a new complex process, i.e., a molten-metal process combined with high energy ball milling and ultrasonic vibration methods. The nano particles were β-SiCp with an average diameter of 40 nm, and pre-oxidized at about 850 °C to form an oxide layer with a thickness of approximately 3 nm. The mm-sized composite granules containing nano-SiCp were firstly produced by milling the mixture of oxidized nano-SiCp and pure Al powders, and then were remelted in the matrix-metal melt with mechanical stirring and treated by ultrasonic vibration to prepare the composite. SEM analysis results show that the nano-SiC particles are distributed uniformly in the matrix and no serious agglomeration is observed. The tensile strength and elongation of the composite with 2wt.% nano-SiCp in as-cast state are 226 MPa and 5.5%, improved by 20% and 44%, respectively, compared with the A356 alloy.
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Male, Ph. D, professor. His research interests focus mainly on Al alloys, Mg alloys and their composites.
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Wu, Ss., Yuan, D., Lü, Sl. et al. Nano-SiCP particles distribution and mechanical properties of Al-matrix composites prepared by stir casting and ultrasonic treatment. China Foundry 15, 203–209 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41230-018-8009-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41230-018-8009-2
Key words
- metal matrix composites
- SiC nanopaticles
- A356 aluminum alloy
- solid-liquid mixed casting
- ultrasonic vibration