Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of MWCNTs Reinforced A356 Aluminum Alloys Cast Nanocomposites Fabricated by Using a Combination of Rheocasting and Squeeze Casting Techniques
Loading...
Date
2014
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type
Article
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Series Info
Journal of Nanomaterials;Volume 2014, Article ID 386370, 14 pages
Scientific Journal Rankings
Abstract
A356 hypoeutectic aluminum-silicon alloys matrix composites reinforced by different contents of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated using a combination of rheocasting and squeeze casting techniques. A novel approach by adding MWCNTs into A356 aluminum alloy matrix with CNTs has been performed. This method is significant in debundling and preventing flotation of the CNTs within the molten alloy. The microstructures of nanocomposites and the interface between the aluminum alloy matrix and the MWCNTs were examined by using an optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). This method remarkably facilitated a uniform dispersion of nanotubes within A356 aluminum alloy matrix as well as a refinement of grain size. In addition, the effects of weight fraction (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 wt%) of the CNT-blended matrix on mechanical properties were evaluated. The results have indicated that a significant improvement in ultimate tensile strength and elongation percentage of nanocomposite occurred at the optimal amount of 1.5 wt% MWCNTs which represents an increase in their values by a ratio of about 50% and 280%, respectively, compared to their corresponding values of monolithic alloy. Hardness of the samples was also significantly increased by the addition of CNTs.
Description
MSA Google Scholar
Keywords
MWCNTs, A356 Aluminum Alloys, Nanocomposites, Rheocasting
Citation
[1] K. Lee, Y. N. Kwon, and S. Lee, “Correlation of microstructure with mechanical properties and fracture toughness of A356 aluminum alloys fabricated by low-pressure-casting, rheo-casting, and casting-forging processes,” Engineering Fracture Mechanics, vol. 75, no. 14, pp. 4200–4216, 2008. [2] C. R. Pesi, C. S. Veinovi, and C. R. Pavlovi, “Application of aluminium alloys in production of engines and compressors,” Mobility & Vehicles Mechanics, vol. 30, pp. 85–105, 2004, special edition. [3] A. Vencl, I. Bobic, S. Arostegui, B. Bobic, A. Marinkovic, and ´ M. Babic, “Structural, mechanical and tribological properties ´ of A356 aluminium alloy reinforced with Al2O3, SiC and SiC+ graphite particles,” Journal of Alloys and Compounds, vol. 506, no. 2, pp. 631–639, 2010. [4] S. A. Sajjadi, H. R. Ezatpour, and H. Beygi, “Microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-Al2O3 micro and nano composites fabricated by stir casting,” in Proceedings of the 14th National Conference on Materials Science and Engineering, pp. 325–332, Tehran, Iran, 2010. [5] S. A. Sajjadi, M. Torabi Parizi, H. R. Ezatpour, and A. Sedghi, “Fabrication of A356 composite reinforced with micro and nano Al2O3 particles by a developed compocasting method and study of its properties,” Journal of Alloys and Compounds, vol. 511, no. 1, pp. 226–231, 2012. [6] A. Mazahery, H. Abdizadeh, and H. R. Baharvandi, “Development of high-performance A356/nano-Al2O3 composites,” Materials Science and Engineering A, vol. 518, no. 1-2, pp. 61–64, 2009. [7] I. El-Mahallawi, H. Abdelkader, L. Yousef, A. Amer, J. Mayer, and A. Schwedt, “Influence of Al2O3 nano-dispersions on microstructure features and mechanical properties of cast and T6 heat-treated Al Si hypoeutectic Alloys,” Materials Science & Engineering A, vol. 556, pp. 76–87, 2012. [8] S. Iijima, “Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon,” Nature, vol. 354, pp. 56–58, 1991. [9] M. Yu, B. S. Files, S. Arepalli, and R. S. Ruoff, “Tensile loading of ropes of single wall carbon nanotubes and their mechanical properties,” Physical Review Letters, vol. 84, no. 24, pp. 5552– 5555, 2000. [10] S. R. Bakshi, V. Singh, S. Seal, and A. Agarwal, “Aluminum composite reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes from plasma spraying of spray dried powders,” Surface and Coatings Technology, vol. 203, no. 10-11, pp. 1544–1554, 2009. [11] Q. Li, A. Viereckl, C. A. Rottmair, and R. F. Singer, “Improved processing of carbon nanotube/magnesium alloy composites,” Composites Science and Technology, vol. 69, no. 7-8, pp. 1193– 1199, 2009. [12] B. Abbasipour, B. Niroumand, and S. M. M. Vaghefi, “Compocasting of A356-CNT composite,” Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, vol. 20, no. 9, pp. 1561–1566, 2010. [13] X. Zeng, G. Zhou, Q. Xu, Y. Xiong, C. Luo, and J. Wu, “A new technique for dispersion of carbon nanotube in a metal melt,” Materials Science and Engineering A, vol. 527, no. 20, pp. 5335– 5340, 2010. [14] H. Sevik and S. C. Kurnaz, “Properties of alumina particulate reinforced aluminum alloy produced by pressure die casting,” Materials and Design, vol. 27, no. 8, pp. 676–683, 2006. [15] H. H. Kim, J. S. S. Babu, and C. G. Kang, “Fabrication of A356 aluminum alloy matrix composite with CNTs/Al2O3 hybrid reinforcements,” Materials Science & Engineering A, vol. 573, pp. 92–99, 2013. [16] S. Chatterjee and A. B. Mallick, “Challenges in manufacturing aluminium based metal matrix nanocomposites via stir casting route,” Materials Science Forum, vol. 736, pp. 72–80, 2013. [17] M. S. S. Saravanan, S. P. K. Babu, K. Sivaprasad, and M. Jagannatham, “Technoeconomics of carbon nanotubes produced by open air arc discharge method,” Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, vol. 2, no. 5, pp. 100–108, 2010. [18] S. R. Bakshi, A. K. Keshri, V. Singh, S. Seal, and A. Agarwal, “Interface in carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum silicon composites: thermodynamic analysis and experimental verification,” Journal of Alloys and Compounds, vol. 481, no. 1-2, pp. 207–213, 2009. [19] K. Landry, S. Kalogeropoulou, and N. Eustathopoulos, “Wettability of carbon by aluminum and aluminum alloys,” Materials Science and Engineering A, vol. 254, no. 1-2, pp. 99–111, 1998. [20] I. S. El-Mahallawi, K. Eigenfeld, F. H. Kouta et al., “Synthesis and characterization of new cast A356/(Al2O3)P metal matrix nano-composites,” in Proceeding of the 2nd Multifunctional Nanocomposites & Nanomaterials, International Conference & Exhibition, pp. 87–92, Cairo, Egypt, January 2008. [21] S. Y. El-Kady, T. S. Mahmoud, and M. A. Sayed, “Elevated temperatures tensile characteristics of cast A356/Al2O3 nanocomposites fabricated using a combination of rheocasting and squeeze casting techniques,” Materials Sciences and Applications, vol. 2, pp. 390–398, 2011. [22] R. J. Arsenault and N. Shi, “Dislocation generation due to differences between the coefficients of thermal expansion,” Materials Science and Engineering, vol. 81, pp. 175–187, 1986. [23] S. R. Bakshi and A. Agarwal, “An analysis of the factors affecting strengthening in carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum composites,” Carbon, vol. 49, no. 2, pp. 533–544, 2011. [24] G. E. Dieter, Mechanical Metallurgy, McGraw-Hill, London, UK, 1988. [25] R. M. Rashad, O. M. Awadallah, and A. S. Wifi, “Effect of MWCNTs content on the characteristics of A356 nanocomposite,” Journal of Achievements in Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, vol. 2, pp. 74–80, 2013. [26] R. George, K. T. Kashyap, R. Rahul, and S. Yamdagni, “Strengthening in carbon nanotube/aluminium (CNT/Al) composites,” Scripta Materialia, vol. 53, no. 10, pp. 1159–1163, 2005. [27] J. Wei, C. S. Goh, S. M. L. Nai, and G. J. Bi, “Simultaneous enhancement in strength and ductility by reinforcing magnesium with carbon nanotubes,” Materials Science and Engineering A, vol. 423, no. 1-2, pp. 153–156, 2006. [28] M. Paramsothy, M. Gupta, J. Chan, and R. Kwok, “Carbon nanotube addition to simultaneously enhance strength and ductility of hybrid AZ31/AA5083 alloy,” Materials Sciences and Applications, vol. 2, pp. 20–29, 2011. [29] L. Ci, Z. Ryu, N. Y. Jin-Phillipp, and M. Ruhle, “Investigation of ¨ the interfacial reaction between multi-walled carbon nanotubes and aluminum,” Acta Materialia, vol. 54, no. 20, pp. 5367–5375, 2006.