Development and Property Evaluation of Aluminum alloy based Nano Metal Matrix Composites (NMMCs) for Automotive Applications

摘要

The present investigation aims at developing aluminum alloy reinforced with different wt.% of nano-ZrO_2 particles, cast using chilling technique. The commercially availableAl-alloy (LM 13)is used as the matrix material andnano-sized ZrO_2 particulates ranging from 70-100nm are used as reinforcing phase. The primary process consists of synthesis of monolithic and nano-sized ZrO_2 reinforced Al composites (NMMCs) containing five different weight percentage of ZrO_2 from 3 to 15 wt.% in steps of 3% are produced via vortex route. In the secondary processing, the deposited monolithic matrix alloy and nano-sized ZrO_2 reinforced Al-alloy-matrix are hot extruded. Microstructural characterization investigations are conducted on polished NMMCs and as cast monolithic alloy specimens to explore morphological characteristics of grain, reinforcement distribution and interfacial integrity between matrix and the reinforcement. Hardness evaluations are explored for extruded NMMCs and as cast monolithic alloy at both macro and micro levels. Tensile behaviors of extruded NMMCs and monolithicmatrix alloy are evaluated to explore its integrated properties associated with increasing amounts of reinforcement content present in the matrix alloy. Fracture toughness behavior of extruded NMMCs and as cast monolithic alloy are also evaluated.