Synthesis of Aluminum–Aluminum Nitride Nanocomposites by a Gas–Liquid Reaction II. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties

• Published in: Metallurgical and materials transactions. A, Physical metallurgy and materials science Vol. 47; no. 4; pp. 1818 - 1827
• Main Authors: Borgonovo, Cecilia, Makhlouf, Makhlouf M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.04.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alloys; Aluminum; Aluminum base alloys; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry and Materials Science; Documents; Materials Science; Mechanical properties; Metallic Materials; Metallurgy; Microstructure; Nanocomposites; Nanotechnology; Nitrides; Physical metallurgy; Structural Materials; Surfaces and Interfaces; Synthesis (chemistry); Thin Films; Average Cluster Size; Matrix Alloy; Aluminum Nitride; Nanocomposite Material; Impeller Rotation Speed
• ISSN: 1073-5623; 1543-1940
• DOI: 10.1007/s11661-016-3328-7

In situ fabrication of the reinforcing particles in the metal matrix is an answer to many of the challenges encountered in manufacturing aluminum matrix nanocomposites. In this method, the nanoparticles are formed directly within the melt by means of a chemical reaction between a specially designed aluminum alloy and a gas. In this publication, we describe a process for synthesizing aluminum–aluminum nitride nanocomposites by reacting a nitrogen-containing gas with a molten aluminum–lithium alloy. We quantify the effect of the process parameters on the average particle size and particle distribution, as well as on the tendency of the particles to cluster in the alloy matrix, is quantified. Also in this publication, we present the measured room temperature and elevated temperature tensile properties of the nanocomposite material as well as its measured room temperature impact toughness.