Title: Fabrication and micro-hardness properties of nano-Al₂O₃ reinforced aluminium metal matrix composite by field-assisted sintering technique/spark plasma sintering processing route

Authors: Pranav Dev Srivyas; M.S. Charoo

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, J&K, 190006, India ' Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, J&K, 190006, India

Abstract: Aluminium metal matrix composites are the advanced composites materials which are developed using different micro/nano-reinforcements and metal matrix. The reinforcement may be ceramic or any other material which provides outstanding properties to those composite materials for various structural and functional applications. In this research work, spark plasma sintering fabrication route was used for consolidation of pre-alloyed Al-Si alloy reinforced with different concentration of nano-Al₂O₃, i.e., 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 wt%. The powder was ball milled in high energy planetary ball mill for 12 hours and then, the fabrication was done at the optimum temperature of 450°C with heating rate of 100°C/min at normal loading pressure of 50 MPa and holding time of 10 min. SEM, EDS, XRD and optical microscopy was done for micro-structural analysis of the powder and the sample. Density measurement and micro-hardness of the sintered samples were also done using digital densimeter and micro-hardness tester, respectively. It is concluded that the FAST/SPS fabrication route is an outstanding technique for the processing of aluminium matrix composites with better properties.

Keywords: mechanical alloying; MA; micro-hardness; reinforcement; spark plasma sintering; SPS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRAPIDM.2019.100499

International Journal of Rapid Manufacturing, 2019 Vol.8 No.3, pp.178 - 209

Received: 14 May 2018
Accepted: 13 Jul 2018
Published online: 29 Jun 2019 *

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