Synthesis and characterisation of nanostructured Al–Al₃V and Al–(Al₃V–Al₂O₃) composites by powder metallurgy

ABSTRACT

In this study, the formation and characterisation of Aluminium (Al)-based composites by mechanical alloying and hot extrusion were investigated. Initially, the vanadium trialuminide (Al₃V) particles with nanosized structure were successfully produced by mechanical alloying and heat treatment. Al₃V–Al₂O₃ reinforcement was synthesised by mechanochemical reduction during milling of V₂O₅ and Al powder mixture. In order to produce composite powders, reinforcement powders were added to pure Al powders and milled for 5 h. The composite powders were consolidated in an extrusion process. The results showed that nanostructured Al-10 wt-% Al₃V and Al-10 wt-% (Al₃V–Al₂O₃) composites have tensile strengths of 209 and 226 MPa, respectively, at room temperature. In addition, mechanical properties did not drop drastically at temperatures of up to 300°C.

KEYWORDS:

• Al matrix composite
• nanostructured materials
• powder metallurgy
• mechanical properties

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.