Title: Production and investigation of Al/SiC(Ni)p composites
Authors: Judit Pázmán; Viktor Mádai; József Tóth; Zoltan Gácsi
Addresses: Institute of Materials Science, University of Miskolc, 3515 Miskolc-Egyetemváros, Hungary. ' Department of Mineralogy and Petrology, University of Miskolc, 3515 Miskolc-Egyetemváros, Hungary. ' Institute of Nuclear Research, Debrecen; 4026 Debrecen, Bem ter 18/c, Hungary. ' Institute of Materials Science, University of Miskolc, 3515 Miskolc-Egyetemváros, Hungary
Abstract: The aluminium matrix composites play an important role in the development of new materials. Low density prefers their application for the automobile and the astronautics. During the powder metallurgy processing two solid phases are pressed to each other then the green is sintered. From the aim of repairing of the weak interface the reinforcing phase must be surface-treated. The silicon carbide particles have inert surface, so the activation is necessary to develop the metallic layer on the ceramic surface. In our research the silicon carbide particles were electroless nickel deposited with three different pre-treatments (acidic pre-treatment, surface oxidation, palladium chloride activation). First was the acid pre-treatment given only a partial nickel deposit. The equal nucleus formation has already been generated by second pre-treatment, in particular surface oxidation. Finally, the compact nickel layer has only developed by the palladium chloride activation. The surface coating has an effect on the mechanical properties of composite, because new phases form. These phases were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Keywords: acid pre-treatment; electroless nickel plating; palladium chloride activation; silicon carbide; surface oxidation; aluminium matrix composites.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2012.047501
International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2012 Vol.7 No.2/3, pp.220 - 234
Published online: 24 Jun 2012 *
Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article