Synthesis of Aluminum-Aluminum Nitride Nanocomposites by Gas-Liquid Reactions I. Thermodynamic and Kinetic Considerations

• Published in: Metallurgical and materials transactions. A, Physical metallurgy and materials science Vol. 47; no. 10; pp. 5125 - 5135
• Main Authors: Borgonovo, Cecilia, Makhlouf, Makhlouf M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-10-2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alloys; Aluminum; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical reactions; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry and Materials Science; Materials Science; Melts; Metallic Materials; Nanocomposite materials; Nanocomposites; Nanotechnology; Physical properties; Reaction kinetics; Structural Materials; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thermodynamics; Thin Films; Nitrogen Molecule; LiAlO2; Bubble Coalescence; Anhydrous Ammonia; Aluminum Nitridation
• ISSN: 1073-5623; 1543-1940
• DOI: 10.1007/s11661-016-3665-6

In-situ
fabrication of the reinforcing particles directly in the metal matrix is an answer to many of the challenges encountered in manufacturing metal matrix nanocomposite materials. In this method, the nanosized particles are formed directly within the melt by means of a chemical reaction between a specially designed metallic alloy and a reactive gas. The thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of this chemical reaction dictate the particle size and distribution in the matrix alloy, as well as the nature of the particle/matrix interface, and consequently, they govern many of the material’s mechanical and physical properties. This article focuses on aluminum-aluminum-nitride nanocomposite materials that are synthesized by injecting a nitrogen-bearing gas into a molten aluminum alloy. The thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the process are modeled, and the detrimental role of oxygen is elucidated.