Effect of thermal stress on the microstructures of aluminium metal matrix composites

• Published in: Materials chemistry and physics Vol. 52; no. 3; pp. 228 - 234
• Main Authors: Shee, S.K., Pradham, S.K., De, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01-03-1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aluminium metal matrix composites; Applied sciences; Dispersion hardening metals; Exact sciences and technology; Metals. Metallurgy; Microstructure; Powder metallurgy. Composite materials; Production techniques; Thermal stress; Thermal stress; Microstructure; Aluminium metal matrix composites; Characterization; Stress analysis; Aluminium base alloys; Experimental study; X ray diffraction; Composite material; Dispersion strengthened metal
• ISSN: 0254-0584; 1879-3312
• DOI: 10.1016/S0254-0584(97)02043-9

Discontinuous reinforced aluminium metal matrix composites have been synthesized using nanocrystalline mullite and zirconia of diameters ranging between 20–30 nm prepared by a sol–gel route. Uniaxial hot pressing technique was used to prepare the composites in the temperature range varying between 450–610°C, close to the matrix metal solidus. The thermal stress-induced evolution of microstructures of the AI metal matrix were characterized by applying X-ray diffraction line profile analysis in terms of the defect parameters such as particle (domain) sizes, root mean square strains, lattice parameters changes, dislocation densities etc. The microhardness (Vickers) values of the composites have been measured and correlated with the values of thermal stress along with other parameters depicting the matrix microstructures.