Sharif Digital Repository

This article describes a study on WC–10Co cemented carbides with different percent of grain growth inhibitors. Samples were prepared by the conventional powder metallurgy method, using WC and Co powder and different concentrations of VC and (Ta, Nb)C powder. All samples were processed using a hot isostatic press (HIP) and the effect of grain growth inhibitors on the microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. Additionally, microstructure and powder particle morphology were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The specimen's microstructure proved that the addition of VC is more effective at suppressing grain growth than... 

This article investigates the effect of T6 heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of hot extruded in-situ Al-15wt%Mg 2Si composite. This composite has already been introduced as a new class of light materials but the brittle structure of the primary Mg 2Si which is formed during solidification limits its application. As-cast composite was directly extruded as rod by using three different dies. Microstructure after this type of extrusion was studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Results demonstrated that extruded and heat treated composite possesses considerably higher strength and enhanced ductility in comparison with the as-cast samples. It was also found... 

This article describes a study on WC-10Co cemented carbides with different percent of grain growth inhibitors. Samples were prepared by the conventional powder metallurgy method, using WC and Co powder and different concentrations of VC and (Ta, Nb)C powder. All samples were processed using a hot isostatic press (HIP) and the effect of grain growth inhibitors on the microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. Additionally, microstructure and powder particle morphology were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The specimen's microstructure proved that the addition of VC is more effective at suppressing grain growth than... 

In this study, we attempt to characterize the microstructural evolution during friction stir butt welding of Al-Cu-laminated composites and its effect on the fracture behavior of the joint. Emphasis is on the material flow and particle distribution in the stir zone. For this purpose, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, energy-dispersive spectroscopy EDS and XRD analyses, hardness measurements, and tensile tests are carried out on the joints. It is shown that intermetallic compounds exist in lamellas of banding structure formed in the advancing side of the welds. In samples welded from the Cu side, the banding structure in the advancing side and the hook... 

There are many approaches to fabricate nanoparticles reinforced aluminum matrix composites. However, uniform distribution of nanoparticle within aluminum matrix remains a difficult challenge. In this study, a novel method is used by taking the advantages from squeeze casting of semi-solid aluminum slurry combined with electromagnetic field to refine the microstructure of the primary Al and eutectic Si phase, plus to obtain uniform distribution nano alumina particles in the aluminum matrix. It is noted that electromagnetic field plays an important role in the formation of non-dendritic primary α-Al particles and a great microstructure refinement occurs as a consequence of the pressure... 

In this study, the aging effect on microstructure and creep behavior of Al2024-10%SiC composite fabricated by powder metallurgy was studied. P/M bars were manufactured by hot powder extrusion method at 450°C with a ratio of 16 to1. Creep specimens were over-aged at 187°C for 43 h. It was found that almost full density composite with relatively homogenous distribution of the reinforcement particles throughout the aluminum alloy matrix can be attained by the direct powder extrusion process. Creep tests were conducted at temperatures of 275 to 325°C under stresses of 25 to 60 MPa. The creep tests revealed that the aged composites demonstrate a weaker creep behavior compared with non-aged... 

Nanostructured Cu and Cu-2. vol% SiC nanocomposite were produced by high energy mechanical milling and hot pressing technique. Microstructure development during fabrication process was investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, scanning transmission electron microscope, and electron backscatter diffraction techniques. The results showed that the microstructure of copper and copper-based nanoco mposite composed of a mixture of equiaxed nanograins with bimodal and non-random misorientation distribution. The presence of SiC nanoparticles refined the grain structure of the copper matrix while the fraction of low angle grain boundaries was increased. Evaluation of mechanical... 

A zirconia/alumina nanocomposite stabilized with cerium oxide (Ce-TZP/Al2O3 nanocomposite) can be a good substitute as reinforcement in metal matrix composites. In the present study, the effect of the amount of 10Ce-TZP/Al2O3 particles on the microstructure and properties of Al/(10Ce-TZP/Al2O3) nanocomposites was investigated. For this purpose, aluminum powders with average size of 30μm were ball-milled with 10Ce-TZP/Al2O3 nanocomposite powders (synthesized by aqueous combustion) in varying amounts of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10wt.%. Cylindrical-shape samples were prepared by pressing the powders at 600MPa for 60min while heating at 400-450°C. The specimens were then characterized by scanning and... 

Aluminium matrix composites reinforced with submicrometre and nanosize Al 2O 3 particles were successfully manufactured in the form of sheets through eight cycles of accumulative roll bonding process. The mechanical properties of the produced composite are compared with accumulative roll bonded commercially pure aluminium. It is shown that only 1 vol.-% of submicrometre or nanosize alumina particles as reinforcement in the structure can significantly improve the yield and ultimate tensile strengths. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that particles have a random and uniform distribution in the matrix especially in the less volume fraction of alumina particles, and strong mechanical... 

The present research aims to investigate the development of brass reinforced aluminum composites during dissimilar friction stir welding of brass and aluminum. Moreover, to probe the effect of such a metal matrix composite on its bed, the cross-sectional properties of joint area are studied in two aspects of corrosion behavior and hardness distribution. Microstructural investigations through optical and electron microscopy show development of lamellar composites within the top site of the stir zone and aluminum surface. The measured iso-hardness contours indicate that evolved composite structures increase the cross-sectional hardness of aluminum locally. Also, the electrochemical assessment... 

Al2O3-SiC composite ceramics were prepared by pressureless sintering with and without the addition of MgO, TiO2 and Y2O3 as sintering aids. The effects of these compositional variables on final density and hardness were investigated. In the present article at first α-Al2O3 and β-SiC nano powders have been synthesized by sol-gel method separately by using AlCl 3, TEOS and saccharose as precursors. Pressureless sintering was carried out in nitrogen atmosphere at 1600 °C and 1630 °C. The addition of 5 vol.% SiC to Al2O3 hindered densification. In contrast, the addition of nano MgO and nano TiO2 to Al 2O3-5 vol.% SiC composites improved densification but Y2O3 did not have positive effect on... 

Aluminum metal-matrix nanocomposites (AMMNCs) fabricated by conventional stir-casting process usually show high porosity and poor distribution of nanoparticles within the matrix. In the current study, for the improvement of nanoparticles distribution in the aluminum matrix and enhancement of the mechanical properties, a mixture of Al/nano-Al2O3 powders were injected by pure argon gas into the molten 7075 aluminum alloy and this mixture was extruded at high temperature. Mechanical behavior of the final product was investigated by tensile and compression tests, hardness measurements, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) and Optical... 

In-situ aluminum matrix composites were fabricated by 1-3 passes of friction stir process (FSP) using iron (Fe) particles with initial size of 10. μm. Although the initial reinforcing particles were relatively large in size and also agglomerated particles were formed in the obtained composites, all of the processed specimens fractured from the base metal during transverse tensile test. Longitudinal tensile tests revealed that the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the composites was up to 43% higher than that of the base metal; however, the strain to fracture of the composites reached to about 0.2. Al-Fe intermetallic compounds (IMCs) formed at the interface of the aluminum matrix and Fe... 

Aluminum metal matrix composites (MMCs) reinforced with nanoceramics are ideal materials for the manufacture of lightweight automotive and other commercial parts. Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system combined with particle swarm optimization method is implemented in this research study in order to optimize the parameters in processing of aluminum MMCs. In order to solve the problems associated with poor wettability, agglomeration and gravity segregation of nanoparticles in the melt, a mixture of alumina and aluminum particles was used as the reinforcement instead of raw nanoalumina. Microstructural characterization shows dendritic microstructure for the sand cast and non-dendritic... 

Friction stir processing (FSP) is a solid state route with a capacity of preparing fine grained nanocomposites from metal sheets. In this work, we employed this process to finely distribute TiO2 nanoparticles throughout an Al-Mg alloy, aiming to enhance mechanical properties. Titanium dioxide particles (30 nm) were preplaced into grooves machined in the middle of the aluminium alloy sheet and multipass FSP was afforded. This process refined the grain structure of the aluminium alloy, distributed the hard nanoparticles in the matrix and promoted solid state chemical reactions at the interfaces of the metal/ceramic particles. Detailed optical and electron microscopic studies showed that the... 

In the present work, we used direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) process to fabricate Al-SiC composite parts directly from a three-dimensional CAD model. Al-7Si-0.3Mg powders were blended with various amounts of SiC particles (5, 10, 15, 20 vol%) at two different sizes (7 and 17 μm) and subjected to direct laser sintering using a 200 W continuous wave CO2 laser beam at various scan rates. The densification and microstructural features of the laser-sintered parts were studied. It is shown that the highest density is obtained for the Al alloy-5% SiC (7 μm) composite powder. The melt stability is also found to be improved in the presence of SiC particles. The microstructure of the... 

Copper matrix composites have received more attentions as possible candidate for thermal and electrical conductive materials to be used in electrical contact applications. In this study, five-layered Cu/YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia) functionally graded material (FGM) and copper matrix composite specimens containing 3 and 5 vol% YSZ particles plus pure Cu specimen were synthesized using powder metallurgy (PM) route and spark plasma sintering (SPS) consolidation process. The microstructural and some physical, mechanical features of all specimens were characterized. Microscopic examinations showed that ultrafine YSZ particles were distributed in the copper matrix almost homogeneously. An... 

Aluminum metal-matrix nanocomposites (AMMNCs) fabricated by conventional stir-casting process usually show high porosity and poor distribution of nanoparticles within the matrix. In the current study, for the improvement of nanoparticles distribution in the aluminum matrix and enhancement of the mechanical properties, a mixture of Al/nano-Al2O3 powders were injected by pure argon gas into the molten 7075 aluminum alloy and this mixture was extruded at high temperature. Mechanical behavior of the final product was investigated by tensile and compression tests, hardness measurements, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) and Optical... 

In the present study, yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) reinforced Cu matrix composite specimens were produced by spark plasma sintering (SPS). For comparison, pure Cu specimen was also produced in the same conditions. The effect of particles content on microstructure, relative density, electrical conductivity, and Vickers hardness was evaluated. The pin-on-disk test was also performed to determine dry sliding wear behavior of specimens under different wear conditions. After sliding wear tests, the worn surfaces were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Microstructural study showed satisfactory distribution of reinforcement particles in copper matrix. The relative... 

There are many engineering applications in which composite materials are required to satisfy two or more criteria regarding physical and mechanical properties. In this article, Al-matrix nanocomposites reinforced with different volume fractions of SiC nanoparticles (~ 50 nm; up to 6%) were processed by powder metallurgy (P/M) routes through mechanical milling and hot consolidation techniques. Microstructural studies showed that nano-metric Al2O3 particles with a size of ~ 20 nm and volume fraction of ~ 2% were formed and distributed in the metal matrix, owing to the surface oxides breaking. Microstructural analysis also revealed that the size of cellular structure and the density of...