In Situ Al<sub>3</sub>BC/Al Composite Fabricated via Solid-Solid Reaction: An Investigation on Microstructure and Mechanical Behavior
Al<sub>3</sub>BC, with its remarkably high modulus of elasticity (326 GPa) and hardness (14 GPa), coupled with a low density (2.83 g/cc), stands out as a promising reinforcement material for Al matrix composite. To study feasibility of solid-solid reaction (SSR) by forming an in situ Al&...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/5189 |
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| Summary: | Al<sub>3</sub>BC, with its remarkably high modulus of elasticity (326 GPa) and hardness (14 GPa), coupled with a low density (2.83 g/cc), stands out as a promising reinforcement material for Al matrix composite. To study feasibility of solid-solid reaction (SSR) by forming an in situ Al<sub>3</sub>BC reinforcing phase within the matrix, this study developed an Al<sub>3</sub>BC/Al composite via mechanical alloying, followed by sintering at 1000 °C/1 h, and subsequent hot pressing at 400 °C/40 MPa. The reaction kinetics and corresponding electron microscopy images suggest that the aluminum (Al)-boron (B) reacts with graphene nanoplates (GNPs) to form both clusters and a heterogeneous multi-structured Al<sub>3</sub>BC reinforcements network dispersed within the fine-grain (FG) Al matrix. The heterostructure contributes to a good balance between strength (~284 MPa) and ductility (~17%) and stiffness (~212 GPa). Superior strain hardening ability (<i>n</i> = 0.3515) endorses remarkable load-bearing capacity (σ<sub>c</sub> = 1.63) and thereby promotes excellent strength-ductility synergy in the composite. The fracture morphology reveals that reasonable ductility primarily relies on the crack deflection by the FG-Al matrix, playing a critical role in delaying fracture. The potential importance of the matrix microstructure in the overall fracture resistance of the composite has been highlighted. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-3417 |