Title: Achieving uniform nanoparticle distributions of bulk Al/Al2O3 metal matrix nanocomposites

Authors: Pragyan Mohanty; Kampal Mishra; Ranadhir Bosu; Payodhar Padhi

Addresses: Department of Physics, Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER), Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Khandagiri Square, Bhubaneswar 751 030, Odisha, India ' Department of Physics, Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER), Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Khandagiri Square, Bhubaneswar 751 030, Odisha, India ' Central Research Facility, IIT – Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, West Bengal, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Konark Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Khurda, Odisha, India

Abstract: In this paper, the advantage of the ultrasonic full cavitation technique has been considered for the synthesis of metal matrix nanocomposites. The transmission electron micrographs show the uniform dispersion of the nano-alumina particles throughout the aluminium matrix. The use of vibrator and ultrasonic waves for the synthesis of nanocomposites does not give time to agglomerate the nano-alumina particles. The hardness results obtained from the micro indentation and the Vickers hardness tester show the similar values of 107 HV with a variation of ±14 HV. The hardness value obtained for different locations of the nanocomposites is much higher than the pure Al and bulk Al/Al2O3 composites. This confirms that the dispersion of nanoparticles throughout the Al gives rise to uniform hardness in the nanocomposites which is the advantage of the synthesis process, i.e., ultrasonic full cavitation technique.

Keywords: metal matrix nanocomposites; nanoparticles; ultrasonic full cavitation; solidification; uniform nanoparticle distributions; nanocomposite synthesis; nanotechnology; aluminium matrix; hardness; microindentation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2014.066296

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2014 Vol.10 No.5/6, pp.478 - 488

Received: 02 Nov 2013
Accepted: 30 Apr 2014

Published online: 20 Dec 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article