A novel aluminum based nanocomposite with high strength and good ductility

Aluminum based nanocomposite containing nano-sized Al3Mg2 reinforcing was fabricated via mechanical milling followed by hot extrusion techniques. For this, Al and Al3Mg2 powders were mixed mechanically and milled at different times (0, 2, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 20 h) to achieve Al-10 wt.% Al3Mg2 composite powders. Hot extrusion of cold pressed powders was done at 400 degrees C with extrusion ratio of 6:1. Microstructures of the powders and consolidated materials were studied using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. Fracture surfaces were also investigated by scanning electron microscopy equipped with EDS analyzer. The results showed that an increase in milling time caused to reduce the grain size unlike the lattice strain of Al matrix. In addition, the fabricated composites exhibited homogeneous distribution and less agglomerations of the n-Al3Mg2 with increasing milling time. The mechanical behavior of these nanocomposites was investigated by hardness and tensile tests, which revealed it has four times the strength of a conventional Al along with good ductility. It was found that the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation of the nanocomposites were significantly improved with increases in milling time up to 15 h. This improvement was attributed to the grain refinement strengthening and homogeneous distribution of the n-Al3Mg2. Fracture surfaces showed that the interfacial bonding between Al and Al3Mg2 could be improved with increasing in milling time. Also HRTEM results from interface showed that a metallurgical clean interface and intimate contact between matrix and second phase. By extending the milling process up to 20 h, there was no significant improvement in mechanical behavior of materials, due to the completion of milling process and dynamic and static recovery of composite at higher milling times. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.