Effect of SiC nanoparticles addition on densification of commercially pure Al and 5252 Al powder compacts

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Materials Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

One of the main challenges in processing of metal matrix nanocomposites through the powder metallurgy method is achieving a dense compact with minimum internal porosity. Pores act as stress risers and deteriorate the mechanical properties of nano-materials. In the present investigation, powder mixtures of commercially pure Al (CP-Al) and 5252 Al alloy reinforced with nanometric SiC particles (0-7 wt.%) were produced by in situ powder metallurgy (IPM) method. These powders were consolidated through cold compaction, sintering and hot extrusion processes and subjected to density measurements, microstructural studies and thermal analysis. Microstructural studies showed that SiC nanoparticles formed a continuous network around the CP-Al powders, restricting effective densification during the cold compaction stage. This network was also shown to prevent metal-to-metal contact during sintering, especially at higher SiC contents. Therefore, a remarkable decrease in the sintered relative density was observed with increasing SiC contents in the CP-Al/SiC compacts. However, in the 5252 Al/SiC composite powders, the SiC nanoparticles embedded within the alloy matrix during the IPM process. As a result, a more homogeneous SiC particle distribution was attained. This led to enhanced cold densification and improved sinterability compared with those of CP-Al/SiC powder mixture. Besides, the presence of Mg in the 5252 alloy matrix was effective in reducing the oxide film covering the Al particles. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed the formation of liquid phase during the sintering of 5252 Al/SiC powder compacts. As a result, mass transfer promoted through the liquid phase sintering enhancing densification. However, improved densification was obtained after hot extrusion of the nano-SiC reinforced composites. Results showed that the pressure required for extrusion increased with increasing SiC content. This was attributed to the enhanced redundant work induced by SiC particles.

Keywords

References

  1. Ceschini L, Dahle A, Gupta M, Jarfors AEW, Jayalakshmi S, Morri A, et al. Mechanical Behavior of Al and Mg Based Nanocomposites. Aluminum and Magnesium Metal Matrix Nanocomposites: Springer Singapore; 2017. p. 95-137.
  2. Prasad Reddy A, Vamsi Krishna P, Rao RN. Mechanical and Wear Properties of Aluminum-Based Nanocomposites Fabricated through Ultrasonic Assisted Stir Casting. Journal of Testing and Evaluation. 2020;48:3035-56.
  3. Prasad Reddy A, Vamsi Krishna P, Narasimha Rao R, Murthy NV. Silicon Carbide Reinforced Aluminium Metal Matrix Nano Composites-A Review. Materials Today: Proceedings. 2017;4(2):3959-71.
  4. Tang F, Hagiwara M, Schoenung JM. Microstructure and tensile properties of bulk nanostructured Al-5083/SiCp composites prepared by cryomilling. Materials Science and Engineering: A. 2005;407(1-2):306-14.
  5. Moazami-Goudarzi M, Akhlaghi F. Effect of nanosized SiC particles addition to CP Al and Al–Mg powders on their compaction behavior. Powder Technology. 2013;245:126-33.
  6. Akhlaghi F, Zare-Bidaki A. Influence of graphite content on the dry sliding and oil impregnated sliding wear behavior of Al 2024–graphite composites produced by in situ powder metallurgy method. Wear. 2009;266(1-2):37-45.
  7. Pournaderi S, Akhlaghi F. Wear behaviour of Al6061-Al2O3 composites produced by in-situ powder metallurgy (IPM). Powder Technology. 2017;313:184-90.
  8. Moazami-Goudarzi M, Akhlaghi F. Effect of SiC Nanoparticles Content and Mg Addition on the Characteristics of Al/SiC Composite Powders Produced via In Situ Powder Metallurgy Method. Particulate Science and Technology. 2013;31(3):234-40.
  9. Peng K, Pan H, Zheng Z, Yu J. Compaction behavior and densification mechanisms of Cu W composite powders. Powder Technology. 2021;382:478-90.
  10. Felege GN, Gurao NP, Upadhyaya A. Microstructure, microtexture and grain boundary character evolution in microwave sintered copper. Materials Characterization. 2019;157:109921.
  11. ASM Handbook, Vol. 7, Powder metal technologies and applications. USA: ASM International; 1992.
  12. Martin LP, Hodge AM, Campbell GH. Compaction behavior of uniaxially cold-pressed Bi–Ta composites. Scripta Materialia. 2007;57(3):229-32.
  13. Abenojar J. Atmosphere influence in sintering process of stainless steels matrix composites reinforced with hard particles. Composites Science and Technology. 2003;63(1):69-79.
  14. Razavi-Tousi SS, Yazdani-Rad R, Manafi SA. Effect of volume fraction and particle size of alumina reinforcement on compaction and densification behavior of Al–Al2O3 nanocomposites. Materials Science and Engineering: A. 2011;528(3):1105-10.
  15. MacAskill IA, Hexemer RL, Donaldson IW, Bishop DP. Effects of magnesium, tin and nitrogen on the sintering response of aluminum powder. Journal of Materials Processing Technology. 2010;210(15):2252-60.
  16. Rahmani Fard R, Akhlaghi F. Effect of extrusion temperature on the microstructure and porosity of A356-SiCp composites. Journal of Materials Processing Technology. 2007;187-188:433-6.
  17. Moazami-Goudarzi M, Akhlaghi F. Effect of SiC Nanoparticles Content and Mg Addition on the Characteristics of Al/SiC Composite Powders Produced via In Situ Powder Metallurgy Method. Particulate Science and Technology. 2012;31:234-40.
  18. Moazami-Goudarzi M, Akhlaghi F. Effect of Mg Content on the Characteristics of Al/SiC Nanocomposite Powders Produced via In Situ Powder Metallurgy Method. Key Engineering Materials. 2011;471-472:420-5.
  19. Boettinger WJ, Kattner UR, Moon K-W, Perepezko JH. DTA AND HEAT-FLUX DSC MEASUREMENTS OF ALLOY MELTING AND FREEZING. Methods for Phase Diagram Determination: Elsevier; 2007. p. 151-221.
  20. ASM Handbook, Vol. 2, Properties and selection: nonferrous alloys and special-purpose materials. USA: ASM International; 1992.
  21. Shaikh MBN, Aziz T, Arif S, Ansari AH, Karagiannidis PG, Uddin M. Effect of sintering techniques on microstructural, mechanical and tribological properties of Al-SiC composites. Surfaces and Interfaces. 2020;20:100598.
  22. Schaffer GB, Sercombe TB, Lumley RN. Liquid phase sintering of aluminium alloys. Materials Chemistry and Physics. 2001;67(1-3):85-91.
  23. Tang F, Anderson IE, Biner SB. Solid state sintering and consolidation of Al powders and Al matrix composites. Journal of Light Metals. 2002;2(4):201-14.
  24. Dabhade VV, Mohan TRR, Ramakrishnan P. Sintering behavior of titanium–titanium nitride nanocomposite powders. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 2008;453(1-2):215-21.
  25. Kondoh K, Kimura A, Watanabe R. Effect of Mg on sintering phenomenon of aluminium alloy powder particle. Powder Metallurgy. 2001;44(2):161-4.
  26. Lumley RN, Sercombe TB, Schaffer GM. Surface oxide and the role of magnesium during the sintering of aluminum. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A. 1999;30(2):457-63.
  27. ASM Handbook, Vol. 3, Alloy phase diagrams. USA: ASM International; 1992.
  28. Rao CS, Upadhyaya GS. 2014 and 6061 aluminium alloy-based powder metallurgy composites containing silicon carbide particles/fibres. Materials & Design. 1995;16(6):359-66.
  29. Li G, Lu L, Lai MO. Liquid phase sintering of metal matrix composites. Journal of Materials Processing Technology. 1997;63(1-3):286-91.
  30. Asgharzadeh H, Simchi A. Supersolidus liquid phase sintering of Al6061/SiC metal matrix composites. Powder Metallurgy. 2009;52(1):28-35.
  31. Hosford WF, Caddell RM. Metal forming: Mechanics and metallurgy. 1st ed. USA: Prentice-Hall; 1983.
  32. Sheppard T, McShane HB, Zaidi MA, Tan GH. The extrusion of atomised aluminium alloy compacts and composites. Journal of Mechanical Working Technology. 1983;8(1):43-70.
  33. Fogagnolo JB, Robert MH, Ruiz-navas EM, Torralba JM. Extrusion of mechanically milled composite powders. Journal of Materials Science. 2002;37(21):4603-7.
  34. Balog M, Simancik F, Walcher M, Rajner W, Poletti C. Extruded Al–Al2O3 composites formed in situ during consolidation of ultrafine Al powders: Effect of the powder surface area. Materials Science and Engineering: A. 2011;529:131-7.
Journal of Ultrafine Grained and Nanostructured Materials
Volume 54, Issue 2
December 2021
Pages 121-130

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 01 October 2021
  • Revise Date: 22 October 2021
  • Accept Date: 23 October 2021

Share

How to cite

Statistics