Abstract
A metal-matrix composite composed of Al-4wt.% Cu and 10wt.% of particulates of ZrC with average initial particle sizes of 8 and 157μm were mechanically alloyed (MA'ed) for 90, 120, 150, 180 and 210min. Steady-state conditions were obtained after 180min of MA'ed time. These powders were consolidated by vacuum hot pressing under 70MPa at 550°C for 1h. A rod-shaped Al7Cu2Fe intermetallic phase was observed in the sintered samples due to the reaction of Al-Cu matrix with Fe from balls and/or vials during MA process. The particle size of the ZrC particles in the consolidated samples were 0.3-1.5μm and 1.5-6μm for the MMC with initial 8 and 157μm ZrC powders, respectively. Composite samples comprising the smaller ZrC particles exhibited higher hardness and lower wear resistance compared to those reinforced with coarser ZrC particles. The larger reinforcement particles (1.5-6μm) remained intact on the worn surface and continuously protected the composite against the steel ball counterface.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 5930-5938 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Materials Science and Engineering: A |
Volume | 527 |
Issue number | 21-22 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2010 |
Funding
This research has been financially supported by the Istanbul Technical University Research Fund under the Project Title “Investigation of Production, Microstructural and Physical Properties of AlCu Alloys Reinforced with TiC and ZrC” with the Project No. 32838 is gratefully acknowledged. We would like to express our gratitude to State Planning Organization (DPT) for finding the project entitled “Advanced Technologies in Engineering” with the Project No. 2001K 120750 out of which the main infrastructure of the Particle Materials Laboratories was founded. The authors wish to thank Prof. Okan Addemir and his research group members, especially to A. Cem Akarsu for his help in vacuum hot pressing experiments. The authors are grateful to thank Mr. Martin Kupsta and Ms. De-Ann Rollings for their help during the SEM analysis and Ms. Shalon McFarlane of the University of Alberta for operating the TEM. The authors also wish to thank research assistant Mert Gunyuz for his help during wear experiments. One of the authors (H. Kaftelen) is also gratefully acknowledge The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for the support through the International Research Fellowship Fund.
Funders | Funder number |
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Istanbul Technical University Research Fund | 32838 |
TUBITAK | |
Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştirma Kurumu |
Keywords
- Composite
- Electron microscopy
- Mechanical alloying
- Wear