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The present investigation studies the processing of A356 Al-Si alloy containing up to 5% vol.-% nano-sized al2o3 particles having size less than 500 nm. Composites were prepared using semi-solid casting route. To evaluate the results the alloys were further characterised by various metallurgical and mechanical characterization methods. The results showed that introducing nano-particles into semi-solid slurries promises to be a successful route for producing a new generation of cast metal matrix nano-composites (MMNCs). The nano-composites showed high strength values associated with superior ductility, low porosity content, high corrosion resistance, and improved electrical conductivity compared to the alloy without particles addition under the same casting conditions.

New workable aluminum-based light alloys are a key issue in current materials science. In this work, thermophysical properties (density, viscosity, and electrical conductivity) of liquid Al-4 wt pct Cu, Al-20 wt pct Cu, Al-30 wt pct Cu, and AlCu4TiMg alloys have been measured in a wide temperature range. The anomalies with respect to the concentration dependence of the electrical conductivity are explained in terms of the s-d hybridization model. A comparison with data and scaling relations available in the literature is given.

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The present investigation studies the prospects of using nanoparticles as reinforcement agents to gain improved performance of A356 Al cast alloy by adding up to 5% Al2O3 and TiO2 particles. The particles size was intentionally reduced from 10 μm to 500 nm to 40 nm. To evaluate the results, the alloys were further characterised by various metallurgical and mechanical characterisation methods. The results showed that introducing nanoparticles into semisolid slurries has a beneficial effect on optimising strength–ductility relationship in Al–Si cast alloys. The new material showed higher strength values with improved ductility compared to the monolithic alloy under the same casting conditions. Those particles were incorporated and entrapped within the interdendritic and/or grain boundary interface, as well as within the grains, developed during solidification.