Method for Aluminothermic Synthesis of Aluminum/Aluminum Nitride Ceramic - Metal Composites

摘要

A new method for synthesis of aluminum matrix composite materials was developed based on aluminothermy. Employing this method an aluminum matrix composite material with a high content of A1N crystal phase was synthesized. Fine powders of aluminum and silica glass were mixed and heated in a corundum crucible for 6 hours at 1100 ℃ in air. The X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the composite material thus synthesized contains a high concentration of A1N microcrystals (about 33 vol %) embedded in an aluminum silicon alloy. A small amount of A1,O, microcrystals (about 8 vol.%) was also found. The method proposed can also be used for synthesis of aluminum matrix composite materials containing besides A1N other ceramic reinforcement phases. The properties of these composite materials can be tailored by choosing an appropriate composition of the initial powder mixture for the aluminothermic synthesis.