Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AlSiTiCrNiCu Particles Reinforced Al6061 Composites by SPS and HPS Process

Abstract

Three groups of AlSiTiCrNiCu high entropy alloy (HEA) particles reinforced Al606l composites were fabricated by spark plasma sintering at 520 and 570 °C (S520, S570) and by hot-pressed sintering at 570 °C(H570). The AlSiTiCrNiCu (AST) particles used as reinforcements were synthesized by mechanical alloying. The influences of the sintering process on the microstructure and mechanical properties of composites were investigated. The results showed that the AST particles had a near-equiatomic composition with a single BCC structure. The sintering temperature and time had a coupling influence on the interfacial microstructure. S520 had hardly reaction products and slight interfacial diffusion, and the AST particles were completely high entropy. Intense interfacial reactions happened on S570 and H570 with the same reaction products. The element diffusion of S570 was focused on the edge of the AST particles with partial loss of high entropy. Complete element diffusion and entire loss of high entropy of AST particles happened on H570. The differences in the microstructure caused by the three preparation methods led to the changes in mechanical properties and fracture mechanisms of composites.

Keywords

high entropy alloys / mechanical alloying / Al matrix composites / spark plasma sintering / hot-pressed sintering

References

[1] Ibrahim I A, Mohamed F A, Lavernia E J. Particle Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites—A Review. J. Mater. Sci., 1991, 26: 1 137-1 156.

[2] Miracle D B. Metal Matrix Composites-from Science to Technological Significance. Compos. Sci. Technol., 2005, 65: 2 526-2 540.

[3] Rawal S. Metal-Matrix Composites for Space Applications. JOM, 2001, 53: 14-17.

[4] Rosso M. Ceramic and Metal Matrix Composites: Routes and Properties. J. Mater. Process. Technol., 2006, 175: 364-375.

[5] Kaczmar J W, Pietrzak K, Wlosiński W. The Production and Application of Metal Matrix Composite Materials. Mater. Process. Technol., 2000, 106: 58-67.

[6] Dursun T, Soutis C. Recent Developments in Advanced Aircraft Aluminium Alloys. Mater. Des., 2014, 56: 862-871.

[7] Bdodunrin M O, Alaneme K K. Aluminium Matrix Hybrid Composites: A Review of Reinforcement Philosophies; Mechanical, Corrosion and Tribological Characteristics. J. Mater. Res. Technol., 2015, 4: 434-445.

[8] Koli D K, Agnihotri G, Purohit R. Advanced Aluminium Matrix Composites: The Critical Need of Automotive and Aerospace Engineering Fields. Mater. Today Proc., 2015, 2(4): 3 032-3 041.

[9] Yashopal Sumankant Jawalkar C S, et al. Fabrication of Aluminium Metal Matrix Composites with Particle Reinforcement: A Review. Mater. Today Proc., 2017, 4: 2 927-2 936.

[10] Topcu I, Gulsoy H O, Kadioglu N, et al. Processing and Mechanical Properties of B₄C Reinforced Al Matrix Composites. J. Alloys Compd., 2009, 482: 516-521.

[11] Yeh J W, Chen S K, Lin S J, et al. Nanostructured High-Entropy Alloys with Multiple Principal Elements: Novel Alloy Design Concepts and Outcomes. Adv. Eng. Mater., 2004, 6: 299-303.

[12] Yeh J W, Chen S K, Gan J Y, et al. Formation of Simple Crystal Structures in Cu-Co-Ni-Cr-Al-Fe-Ti-V Alloys with Multiprincipal Metallic Elements. Metall. Mater. Trans., 2004, A35: 2 533-2 536.

[13] Yeh J W. Recent Progress in High Entropy Alloys. Ann. Chim. Sci. Mater., 2006, 6: 633-648.

[14] Yeh J W. Alloy Design Strategies and Future Trends in High-Entropy Alloys. JOM, 2013, 65: 1 759-1 771.

[15] Zhang Y, Yang X, Liaw P K. Alloy Design and Properties Optimization of High-Entropy Alloys. JOM, 2012, 64: 830-838.

[16] Karthika G M, Panikarb S, Janaki Rama G D, et al. Additive Manufacturing of an Aluminum Matrix Composite Reinforced with Nanocrystalline High-Entropy Alloy Particles. Mater. Sci. Eng. A Struct., 2017, 679: 193-203.

[17] Liu Y Z, Chen J, Li Z, et al. Formation of Transition Layer and Its Effect on Mechanical Properties of AlCoCrFeNi High-Entropy Alloy/Al Composites. J. Alloys. Compd., 2019, 780: 558-564.

[18] Wang Z W, Yuan Y B, Zheng R X, et al. Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Extruded 2024 Aluminum Alloy Reinforced by FeNi-CrCoAl₃ Particles. Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China, 2014, 24: 2 366-2 373.

[19] Vaidya M, Muralikrishna G M, Murty B S. High-Entropy Alloys by Mechanical Alloying: A Review. J. Mater. Res., 2009, 34: 664-686.

[20] Tian L H, Fu M, Xiong W. Microstructural Evolution of AlCoCrFeNiSi High-Entropy Alloy Powder during Mechanical Alloying and Its Coating Performance. Materials, 2018, 11: 320.

[21] Zhang K B, Fu Z Y, Zhang J Y, et al. Nanocrystalline CoCrFeNiCuAl High-Entropy Solid Solution Synthesized by Mechanical Alloying. J. Alloys. Compd., 2009, 485: L31-L34.

[22] Chen Y L, Hu Y H, Tsai C W, et al. Structural Evolution During Mechanical Milling and Subsequent Annealing of Cu-Ni-Al-Co-Cr-Fe-Ti Alloys. Mater. Chem. Phys., 2009, 118: 354-361.

[23] Takeuchi A, Inoue A. Classification of Bulk Metallic Glasses by Atomic Size Difference, Heat of Mixing and Period of Constituent Elements and Its Application to Characterization of the Main Alloying Element. Mater. Trans., 2005, 46: 2 817-2 829.

[24] Varalakshimi S, Kamaraj M, Murty B S. Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocrystalline AlFeTiCrZnCu High Entropy Solid Solution by Mechanical Alloying. J. Alloys. Compd., 2008, 460: 253-257.

[25] Suryanarayana C. Mechanical Alloying and Milling. Prog. Mater. Sci., 2001, 46: 1-184.

[26] Laurent-Brocq M, Goujon P A, Monnier J, et al. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a CoCrFeMnNi High Entropy Alloy Processed by Milling and Spark Plasma Sintering. J. Alloys. Compd., 2019, 780: 856-865.

[27] Mamedov V. Spark Plasma Sintering as Advanced PM Sintering Method. Powder Metall., 2002, 45: 322-328.

[28] Guillon O, Gonzalez-Julian J, Dargatz B, et al. Field-Assisted Sintering Technology/Spark Plasma Sintering: Mechanisms, Materials, and Technology Developments. Adv. Eng. Mater., 2014, 16: 830-848.

[29] Ramesh C S, Keshavamurthy R, Channabasappa B H, et al. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ni-P Coated Si₃N₄ Reinforced Al6061 Composites. Mater. Sci. Eng. A Struct., 2009, 502: 99-106.

[30] Wang S, Zhu S, Cheng J, et al. Microstructural, Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Al Matrix Composites Reinforced with Cu Coated Ti₃AlC₂. J. Alloys. Compd., 2017, 690: 612-620.

[31] Bagheri G A. The Effect of Reinforcement Percentages on Properties of Copper Matrix Composites Reinforced with TiC Particles. J. Alloys. Compd., 2016, 676: 120-126.

[32] Fei W D, Jiang X D, Li C, et al. Effect of Interfacial Reaction on the Young’s Modulus of Aluminium Borate Whisker Reinforced Aluminium Composite. J. Mater. Letter., 1996, 15: 1 966-1 968.

[33] Nardone V C. Assessment of Models Used to Predict the Strengthening of Discontinuous Silicon Carbide Reinforced Aluminum Alloys. Scr. Metall., 1987, 21: 1 313-1 318.

[34] Yurchenko N Y, Stepanov N D, Shaysultanov D G, et al. Effect of Al Content on Structure and Mechanical Properties of the Al_xCrNbTiVZr (x = 0; 0.25; 0.5; 1) High-Entropy Alloys. Mater. Charact., 2016, 121: 125-134.

[35] Li W D, Liaw P K, Gao Y F. Fracture Resistance of High Entropy Alloys: A Review. Intermetallics, 2018, 99: 69-83.

[36] Luan B F, Wu G H, Liu W, et al. High Strength Al₂O_3p/2024Al Composites-Effect of Particles, Subgrains and Precipitates. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2005, 21: 1 440-1 443.

[37] Gao F, Xu C, P Zhang H, et al. Core-Shell Structured Al-Matrix Composite with Enhanced Mechanical Properties. Mater. Sci. Eng. A Struct., 2016, 657: 64-70.