Effect of volume fraction and particle size of alumina reinforcement on compaction and densification behavior of A1-A1_2O_3 nanocomposites

摘要

AI-Al_2O_3 nanostructured composite powders containing 1,3 and 7 percent volume fraction (vf%) of sub-micronanometeric alumina particles as reinforcement phase were produced by high energy milling. The powders were consolidated by a uniaxial cold press and sintered for various durations of time. Effects of reinforcement particle size and volume fraction on compaction and sintering behavior of nanocom-posite powders were investigated considering relative density as the main criterion. It was found that the nanometeric alumina particles had a more hindering effect on densification of the composite powders as compared to the submicron particles. The hindering effect was found to be aggravated by higher volume fractions of the reinforcement particles.