Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al-4wt. %Cu – (2.5-10) vol. % SiC Nanocomposites Produced by Powder Compact Extrusion

Abstract

Ball milling is used to produce Al-4wt. %Cu- (2.5-10) vol. % SiC nanocomposites, in
which Al, Cu and nano-powder SiC used to produce the nano-powder. The produced nanopowder was consolidated by using powder compact extrusion process. The characterization of
the produced bars was done by using tensile testing and electron microscopy. The ultimate
tensile strength and hardness was enhanced significantly from 104HV and 168MPa to 153HV
and 400 MPA when SiC nanoparticles volume fraction increased to 5% from 2.5%. On other
hand, due to the agglomerate of the SiC nanoparticles the ductility decreased from 6.8% to 2%.