Title: Synthesis of advanced nano-composites – MCrAlY powders for high temperature applications

Authors: Mohammad Sakhawat Hussain, Salah Al-Swailem, Ahmed Hala

Addresses: National Nanotechnology Center, KACST, POB 6086, Riyadh 11442, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ' Ministry of Defense and Aviation, POB 59409, Riyadh 11525, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ' Atomic Energy Research Institute, KACST, POB 6086, Riyadh 11442, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract: The developmental work contributing to the synthesis of nano-Ni powders by chemical reduction is presented; nano-crystalline Ni, Cr and Al have also been produced by attrition milling in a liquid medium using a Planetary Ball Mill. Binary and ternary alloys of these elements i.e., NiAl, AlCr, NiCr NiCrAl were then synthesised by mechanical alloying. These NiCrAl powders will be used to synthesise MCrAlY powders after doping with yttrium. Commercially used MCrAlY powders investigated had been found to be larger than 100 μm in diameter. The focus of this study is in the application of nano-composites in industrial turbines for aero-engine/power generation industry. Finer particles are expected to increase high temperature properties of the thermally sprayed MCrAlY overlay coatings. These particles were characterised using SEM; XRD measurements show the crystallite size to be less than 20 nm; the powder particle size was in the range of 200-270 nm; no undesirable particle contamination was detected.

Keywords: nanocrystalline nickel; mechanical-alloying; MCrAlY; nanocomposites; nanotechnology; attrition milling; mechanical alloying; turbines; aero-engines; power generation; synthesis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2009.028761

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2009 Vol.2 No.1/2/3/4/5/6, pp.282 -290

Published online: 30 Sep 2009 *

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