Mechanical properties of aluminum matrix composite reinforced with titanium carbide

Abstract

An original method for the production of metal matrix nanocomposites has been proposed, which consists of depositing carbide structures 4–12 nm thick onto the surface of particles of aluminum powder by molecular layering, mixing the resulting dispersed particles with particles of pure metal in the required concentration, then pressing and sintering the resulting mixture. The resulting workpieces are subjected to intense plastic deformation by high-pressure torsion, which not only significantly reduces porosity, ensures a uniform distribution of reinforcing particles throughout the volume, and destroys carbide shells on the surface of dispersed particles, but also grinds aluminum particles. Experimental stress-strain curves of the synthesized composites were constructed and the contribution of various hardening mechanisms to the final hardening of the metal matrix composite was assessed. In metal matrix composites synthesized by this method, with small fractions of the volume content of reinforcing titanium carbide particles (less than 0.1%), almost twofold hardening and a threefold increase in the yield strength are observed with a slight reduction in plastic deformation before failure.