Development of Novel Al-based Nanocomposites

M. GALANO; N. ROUNTHWAITE; W. GU; A. KNOWLES; F. AUDEBERT

Gijon

Congreso; ISMANAM 2011 - XVIII International Symposium on Metastable, Amorphous and Nanostructured Materials; 2011

The Technology Roadmaps for the aluminium supply chain, aerospace and automotive industries worldwide are in full agreement in the call for the development of new alloys with a step-change in performance in respect of strength and toughness at ambient and elevated temperatures. Legislative and environmental demands exist to put pressure on transport industries to introduce vehicles with lower weight, greater efficiency, and reduced emission, whilst remaining competitive. The present work is based on the development of novel Aluminium Alloys matrix nanocomposites with combinations of reinforcement strategies at the nanoscale to target specific applications. Different materials have been used as nanoreinforcements or plasticizers for improving targeted properties of nanostructured Al-based alloys such as nanosize quasicrystalline and ceramic particles, and pure metals. Several powder metallurgy techniques have been applied in the manufacturing of the different nanocomposites, particularly the ones contained ceramic reinforcements were processed using ball milling techniques. The extrusion process on the nanocomposites containing plasticizers produces anisotropic composites with ductile fibres which improve ductility and toughness. The structural characterization was performed using XRD, and electron microscopy techniques (SEM and TEM). Complimentary, calorimetric analysis has been used in order to study the microstructural stability. The mechanical behaviour of the different nanocomposites has been studied and compared to high strength commercial Al alloys. A relationship between processing, microstructure and properties is drawn.