MECHANIK 2/2015

FABRICATION OF THE ALUMINIUM MATRIX

NANOCOMPOSITES WITH HALLOYSITE AND CARBON
NANOTUBES
WYTWARZANIE NANOKOMPOZYTW
O OSNOWIE STOPW ALUMINIUM
Z NANORURKAMI HALOIZYTOWYMI I WGLOWYMI
Leszek A. DOBRZASKI1, Baej TOMICZEK1, Mirosawa PAWLYTA1,
Magdalena KUJAWA1, Magdalena MACEK1
Abstract
The development of modern technologies is closely linked to an effort of developing
improved engineering materials with low density and simultaneously higher mechanical and
thermal properties, as well as low fabrication cost and the related competitive cost of final
products. The most widely applied techniques for the fabrication of composite materials are
based on casting techniques such as the squeeze casting of porous ceramic preforms with
liquid metal alloys and powder metallurgy methods, including powder preparation and plastic
consolidation. In this paper the fabrication methods, microstructure and properties of metal
matrix composites reinforced with halloysite and alternatively carbon nanotubes are
discussed. AlMg1SiCu matrix composites reinforced with natural halloysite nanotubes (HNT)
and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were fabricated using mechanical alloying
and compressing and hot extrusion respectively. The composite powders microstructure and
morphology and microstructure and mechanical properties also of extruded nanostructural
composites were studied as a function of milling time and reinforcing phase concentration.
Obtained composite powders and extruded bars of aluminium alloy matrix reinforced with
halloysite and carbon nanotubes were characterized with SEM, TEM and XRD analysis.
Microstructural observation proves that mechanical alloying establish a homogenous
dispersion of nanoparticles in the aluminium matrix thus avoiding an issue of their
agglomeration. It has been confirmed also that the use of mechanical alloying due to a high
degree of deformation and decrease crystallite size below 100nm causing increased hardness
and strength of developed nanocomposites.
1

Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Engineering Materials and
Biomaterials, Gliwice, Poland

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INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY 2014

Alternatively to the powder metallurgy technique, a gas pressure infiltration of the porous
preforms by AlSi12 liquid alloy has been done. As a reinforcement ceramic preforms
fabricated by sintering of halloysite nanotubes powder with addition of pore forming agents
as carbon fibres were used. The SEM investigations of the fabricated porous preforms show
the balanced arrangement of canals arisen after the degradation of carbon fibres and the
presence of micro-pores around the ceramic particles. Infiltrated composites are characterized
by the percolation structure, a uniform distribution of the ceramic phase and the absence of
unfilled pores. The developed technology of fabrication composites reinforced with the
porous ceramic ensures the expected microstructure and properties. It has been proven that
the both developed technologies for obtaining aluminium matrix composites provides the
required microstructure and improved mechanical properties.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Project was founded by the National Science Centre based on the agreement number
UMO-2011/03/B/ST08/06076.

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