Ultrasonically Stir Cast SiO2/A356 Metal Matrix Nanocomposites

• Published in: Metals (Basel ) Vol. 11; no. 12; p. 2004
• Main Authors: Malaki, Massoud, Tehrani, Alireza Fadaei, Niroumand, Behzad, Abdullah, Amir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-12-2021
• Subjects: Affinity; Aluminum base alloys; Cavitation; Chemical treatment; Composite materials; Contact angle; dispersion; Ductility; Filler materials; High strength; Lightweight; Liquid-solid systems; Manufacturing; Mechanical properties; Metal matrix composites; metal matrix nanocomposites; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; silica; Silicon dioxide; Titanium alloys; ultrasonication; Wettability
• ISSN: 2075-4701; 2075-4701
• DOI: 10.3390/met11122004

Metal matrix nanocomposites are a newly developed materials with promising applications in a wide variety of areas, ranging from medical to aerospace structures, owing to their lightweight high-strength properties. A light metal like aluminum is usually strengthened by a reinforcing agent of carbides, nitrides, oxides, carbon-based materials, or even elementals to boost the mechanical performance without sacrificing lightweight; however, almost all reinforcing nanomaterials are commonly poorly wetted by metals leading to agglomerations, clusterings, among other problems, with diminished ductility and overall mechanical performance. To tackle the mentioned problems, a number of strategies including coatings, thermal, mechanical, or chemical treatments may be followed. In the present study, a particular focus is paid on the mechanical dispersion of nano-silica particles in a molten A356 alloy through applying high-intensity ultrasonic agitations in order to improve dispersibility, wettability, and interfacial affinity. Nano-silica being an inexpensive high-strength nanomaterial is added to an A356 aluminum alloy melt and then dispersed and distributed by a 2-kW power ultrasonic system. Experimental results including microscopic observations and those mechanical experimentations revealed that the ultrasonication of the aforesaid solid–liquid system may greatly improve the affinity between the de-agglomerated nano-silica particles and the host aluminum matrix with enhanced ductility.