Production and microstructural investigation of Al-nano TiB2 composite produced by powder metallurgy technique

Abstract

Automotive and aerospace industries are required to light materials which have high properties. This causes to reduce production cost and fuel consumption. One of these advanced materials that have been attracted at these decades is particulate metal matrix nanocomposites. These materials have a combination of ductile matrix alloy properties and ceramic reinforcement nanoparticles. Powder metallurgy is one of the significant methods to fabricate this kind of materials. In this research, aluminum alloy matrix nanocomposites reinforced with 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 5, and 10 Vol. % TiB₂ nanoparticles were fabricated via powder metallurgy method. Fabrication was performed at two different sintering temperatures, viz. 650 and 680 °C. Optimum amount of reinforcement and sintering temperature was determined by evaluating density and microstructural studies of nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis illustrated that distribution of nano TiB₂ particles in aluminum matrix is suitable. Also, density results showed that with increasing the TiB₂ volume percent, density of composites increases.