Abstract
The present work reports the fabrication of A357 alloy matrix nanocomposites reinforced with 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 wt.-% TiB2nanoparticles (20–30 nm) by a novel method which is the combination of semi-solid mechanical mixing and ultrasonic dispersion of nanoparticles in liquid state. The microstructural and mechanical properties of the fabricated nanocomposites were investigated. The microstructural studies conducted with optical and advanced electron microscopes indicated that reasonably effective deagglomeration and uniform distribution of TiB2 nanoparticles into the matrix were achieved. Transmission electron microscopy studies also confirmed that the nanoparticles were embedded into the matrix and a good bonding was obtained between the matrix and the reinforcement. Increasing nanoparticle content led to grain refinement and significant enhancement in the mechanical properties of nanocomposites. The addition of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 wt.-% TiB2 nanoparticles increased the 0.2 % proof stress of matrix alloy by approximately 31, 48 and 61 %, respectively. The contribution of different mechanisms to the strength enhancement is discussed. It is proposed that the strengthening is mainly due to Orowan mechanism and dislocation generation effect by the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between the TiB2 nanoparticles and the matrix.
Kurzfassung
Der vorliegende Beitrag beschreibt die Herstellung eines Nanokomposits aus der Aluminiumlegierung A357, das mit 0,5, 1,0 und 2,0 Gew.-% TiB2-Nanopartikeln (20–30 nm) verstärkt wurde. Mittels eines neuen Verfahrens, das eine Kombination aus halbfestem mechanischen Mischen und der Ultraschalldispersion der Nanopartikel im flüssigen Zustand darstellt, wurde dieses erzeugt. Anschließend wurden die mikrostrukturellen und mechanischen Eigenschaften der hergestellten Nanokomposite untersucht. Die mikrostrukturellen Untersuchungen mittels optischer und Elektronenmikroskopie deuten darauf hin, dass ein effektives Desagglomerieren und eine gleichmäßige Verteilung der TiB2-Nanopartikel in der Matrix erreicht werden kann. Untersuchungen mittels Transmissionselektronenmikroskopie bestätigten zudem, dass die Nanopartikel in der Matrix eingebettet waren und eine gute Bindung zwischen Matrix und Verstärkung erreicht wurde. Ein zunehmender Gehalt an Nanopartikeln führte zur Kornfeinung und einer signifikanten Verbesserung der mechanischen Eigenschaften der Nanokomposite. Die Zugabe von 0,5, 1,0 und 2,0 Gew.-% TiB2-Nanopartikel erhöhte die 0,2 % Dehngrenze der Matrixlegierung entsprechend um ca. 31, 48 bzw. 61 %. Es wird außerdem der Beitrag verschiedener Mechanismen zur Verbesserung der Festigkeit diskutiert. Hierbei wird angenommen, dass die Verfestigung hauptsächlich auf den Orowan-Mechanismus zurückzuführen ist, sowie auf den Effekt der Versetzungsgenerierung infolge der ungleichen Wärmeausdehnungskoeffizienten zwischen den TiB2-Nanokompositen und der Matrix.
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