Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Friction Stir Process Derived Al-TiO{sub 2} Nanocomposite

Journal Article · Thu Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/S11665-018-3188-Y· OSTI ID:22858044

Ajay Kumar, P. ^[1]; Perugu, Chandra S. ^[2]; Kailas, Satish V. ^[3]

---

1. University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Department of Materials Science and Engineering (United States)
2. Indian Institute of Science, Department of Materials Engineering (India)
3. Indian Institute of Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering (India)

Aluminum-based composites have many advantages over their conventional counterparts. A major problem in such composites is the clustering of particles in the matrix. Friction stir processing (FSP) can homogenize particle distribution in aluminum-based composites. In this study, unannealed TiO{sub 2} particles were used to prepare Al-TiO{sub 2} nanocomposite using FSP. The TiO{sub 2} particles, about 1 µm, were dispersed into an aluminum matrix by 6 passes of FSP. The TiO{sub 2} particles were fractured by multiple FSP passes, leading to a nano-size particle distribution in the matrix. Nanoscale dispersion was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The fractured TiO{sub 2} particles reacted with the aluminum matrix to form Al{sub 3}Ti intermetallic and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} ceramic. The progression of the Al-TiO{sub 2} reaction from the fourth to the sixth pass of FSP was revealed by x-ray diffraction. Due to the nanoscale dispersion, the yield and ultimate tensile strength of the composite increased to 97 and 145 MPa, respectively. Ductility of the composite decreased marginally compared to the as-received aluminum. As the dispersed particles pin dislocations, the strain-hardening rate of the composite was considerably increased and the same was seen in the Kocks-Mecking plot. The TiO{sub 2} particles are mechanically activated due to their fracture during FSP, hence leading to reaction with the matrix. The particle refinement and dispersion lead to a homogeneous matrix with higher strength.

• OSTI ID: 22858044
• Journal Information: Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, Journal Name: Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 27; ISSN 1059-9495; ISSN JMEPEG
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
ALUMINIUM
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CERAMICS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DISLOCATIONS
DISPERSIONS
DISTRIBUTION
DUCTILITY
FRICTION
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
MICROSTRUCTURE
NANOCOMPOSITES
NANOPARTICLES
NANOSTRUCTURES
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
STRAIN HARDENING
TITANIUM OXIDES
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
X-RAY DIFFRACTION