Synthesis of bulk, fully dense nanostructured metals and metal matrix composites

摘要

Bulk nanostructured alloys, such as aluminum 5083 alloys reinforced with 10 wt. % particulate B₄C, was synthesized by cryomilling and spark plasma sintering. Material for the alloy are selected and the selected raw materials are cryomilled, mechanical milling at cryogenic temperatures, to fabricate nanostructured alloys at low temperatures. The cryomilled powders are then degassed, and consolidated using spark plasma sintering into dense bulk materials. The material thus obtained achieved near full density bulk materials, while retaining the nanocrystalline nature. The densities of the compacts were measured using Archimedes method. XRD, SEM, TEM, and hardness testing were used to characterize the cryomilled powders and consolidated compacts.