Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T14:10:42.804Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

In situ formed Al3Ti particles in Al alloy matrix and their effects on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 7075 alloy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 June 2014

Zhiwei Liu*
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906, USA
Milan Rakita
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906, USA
Xiaoming Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906, USA
Wilson Xu
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906, USA
Qingyou Han*
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906, USA; and New Material Institute of Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, Shandong 250014, People's Republic of China
*
a)Address all correspondence to these authors. e-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

As a promising reinforcement of aluminum alloy, in situ formed Al3Ti particles have attracted more attention in the fabrication of aluminum matrix composites. In our research, in situ Al3Ti/7075 alloy composites were fabricated by adding K2TiF6 salt powders into molten 7075 alloy at 750 °C via casting method. The formation of in situ Al3Ti particles and their effects on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 7075 alloy, including hardness, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and yield strength (YS), were investigated. The results showed that in situ formed Al3Ti particles were rod-like in morphology, with the average length and width of 15 µm and 5 µm, respectively. Due to the nucleating effect of Al3Ti particles, α-Al crystals of 7075 alloy transferred from dendritic to equiaxed structure in morphology, the size of which decreased obviously as well. Compared with 7075 alloy, the hardness, UTS, and YS of in situ Al3Ti/7075 alloy were improved by 14.3%, 18.1%, and 25.8%, respectively.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Tjong, S.C. and Ma, Z.Y.: Microstructural and mechanical characteristics of in situ metal matrix composites. Mater. Sci. Eng. R29, 49113 (2000).Google Scholar
Yang, Z.Q., He, L.L., Chen, J., Cong, H.T., and Ye, H.Q.: Microstructure and thermal stability of an ultrafine Al/Al2O3 composite. J. Mater. Res. 18, 272278 (2003).Google Scholar
Chen, L.G., Shue, K.H., Chang, S.Y., and Lin, S.J.: Squeeze casting of SiCp/Al-alloy composites with various contents of reinforcements. J. Mater. Res. 17, 376385 (2002).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, Z.W., Han, Q.Y., and Li, J.G.: A developed method for producing in situ TiC/Al composites by using quick preheating treatment and ultrasonic vibration. Composites Part B 43, 24292433 (2012).Google Scholar
Xiu, Z.Y., Chen, G.Q., Wu, G.H., Yang, W.S., and Liu, Y.M.: Effect of volume fraction on microstructure and mechanical properties of Si3N4/Al composites. Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 21, s285s289 (2011).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, Y.Q., Cong, H.T., and Cheng, H.M.: Thermal properties of nanocrystalline Al composites reinforced by AlN nanoparticles. J. Mater. Res. 24, 2431 (2009).Google Scholar
Fan, T.X., Yang, G., and Zhang, D.: Thermodynamic effect of alloying addition on in-situ reinforced TiB2/Al composites. Metall. Mater. Trans. A36, 225233 (2005).Google Scholar
Liu, Z.W., Han, Q.Y., and Li, J.G.: Formation of small blocky Al3Ti particles via direct reaction between solid Ti powders and liquid Al. Metall. Mater. Trans. A43, 44604463 (2012).Google Scholar
Liu, Z.W., Han, Q.Y., and Li, J.G.: Fabrication of in situ Al3Ti/Al composites by using ultrasound assisted direct reaction between solid Ti powders and liquid Al. Powder Technol. 247, 5559 (2013).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, R.N., Rabin, B.H., and McFerran, W.H.: Combustion synthesis of cubic Al3Ti alloys. J. Mater. Res. 7, 27332738 (1992).Google Scholar
Zhang, Q., Xiao, B.L., Wang, W.G., and Ma, Z.Y.: Reactive mechanism and mechanical properties of in situ composites fabricated from an Al-TiO2 system by friction stir processing. Acta Mater. 60, 70907103 (2012).Google Scholar
Zhang, M.X., Kelly, P.M., Easton, M.A., and Taylor, J.A.: Crystallographic study of grain refinement in aluminum alloys using the edge-to-edge matching model. Acta Mater. 53, 14271438 (2005).Google Scholar
St. John, D.H. and Hogan, L.M.: Metallography and growth crystallography of Al3Ti in Al-Ti alloys up to 5 wt% Ti. J. Cryst. Growth 46, 387398 (1979).Google Scholar
Jackson, K.A.: Structure of solid-liquid interfaces and crystal growth. In Interfaces Conference, Butterworths and Australian Institute of Metals: Melbourne, 1969.Google Scholar
Sigworth, G.K.: The grain refining of aluminum and phase relationships in the Al-Ti-B System. Metall. Trans. A15, 277282 (1984).Google Scholar
Li, J.X. and Wu, A.P.: Principle of Materials Processing (Peking University Press, Beijing, 2005).Google Scholar
Li, G.R., Wang, H.M., Zhao, Y.T., Chen, D.B., Chen, G., and Chen, X.N.: Microstructure of in situ Al3Ti/6351 Al composites fabricated with electromagnetic stirring and fluxes. Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 20, 577583 (2010).Google Scholar
Wang, X.M., Jha, A., and Brydson, R.: In situ fabrication of Al3Ti particle reinforced aluminum alloy metal-matrix composites. Mater. Sci. Eng. A364, 339345 (2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sigworth, G.K.: Communication on mechanism of grain refinement in aluminum. Scr. Mater. 34, 919922 (1995).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, F., Liu, Z.L., Qiu, D., Taylor, J.A., Easton, M.A., and Zhang, M-X.: Revisiting the role of peritectics in grain refinement of Al alloys. Acta Mater. 61, 360370 (2013).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhang, J. and Zhou, Y.C.: Microstructure, mechanical, and electrical properties of Cu-Ti3AlC2 and in situ Cu-TiCx composites. J. Mater. Res. 23, 924932 (2008).Google Scholar
Kamat, S.V., Hirth, J.P., and Mehrabian, R.: Mechanical properties of particulate-reinforced aluminum-matrix composites. Acta Metall. 37, 23952402 (1989).Google Scholar
Nardone, V.C. and Prewo, K.M.: On the strength of discontinuous silicon carbide reinforced aluminum composites. Scr. Metall. 20, 4348 (1986).Google Scholar
Smith, W.F. and Hashemi, J.: Foundations of Materials Science and Engineering, 5th ed.; McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., New York, 2010.Google Scholar