Metal Matrix Composites Reinforced by Nano-Particles—A Review

Abstract

Metal matrix composites reinforced by nano-particles are very promising materials, suitable for a large number of applications. These composites consist of a metal matrix filled with nano-particles featuring physical and mechanical properties very different from those of the matrix. The nano-particles can improve the base material in terms of wear resistance, damping properties and mechanical strength. Different kinds of metals, predominantly Al, Mg and Cu, have been employed for the production of composites reinforced by nano-ceramic particles such as carbides, nitrides, oxides as well as carbon nanotubes. The main issue of concern for the synthesis of these materials consists in the low wettability of the reinforcement phase by the molten metal, which does not allow the synthesis by conventional casting methods. Several alternative routes have been presented in literature for the production of nano-composites. This work is aimed at reviewing the most important manufacturing techniques used for the synthesis of bulk metal matrix nanocomposites. Moreover, the strengthening mechanisms responsible for the improvement of mechanical properties of nano-reinforced metal matrix composites have been reviewed and the main potential applications of this new class of materials are envisaged.

Reinforcement Size Dependence of Load Bearing Capacity in Ultrafine-Grained Metal Matrix Composites

“…In this case, Eq. [1] predicts an elastic modulus of 79.4 GPa, which is much closer to the experimental modulus of 78.1 GPa.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] In a drive to further enhance the properties of MMCs, recent research has focused on reducing the reinforcement particle size from the micrometric regime to submicron and nanometric length scales. [6,9] The strength and hardness of nanoparticle-reinforced composites have been extensively studied and the operative strengthening mechanisms have been thoroughly described [6,9,12,13] with the general finding that as the reinforcement particle size decreases, the strength of the composite increases.…”

Effect of Wetting Agent and Carbide Volume Fraction on the Wear Response of Aluminum Matrix Composites Reinforced by WC Nanoparticles and Aluminide Particles

“…It is well established that reinforcement with nano-and submicron sized particles can improve the mechanical properties of particulate reinforced aluminum matrix composites (PRAMCs) due to the synergistic action of several strengthening mechanisms, such as the load transfer effect, Hall-Petch strengthening, Orowan strengthening, thermal expansion coefficient mismatch and elastic modulus mismatch between the reinforcements and the metal matrix [1].…”

“…and semi-solid casting (combined rheocasting and squeeze casting, SSC (Semi-Solid Casting) etc.) [1]. Toward this direction, ultrasound assisted casting is a promising route but it is an expensive technique [2] and requires a large source of ultrasound waves [11].…”

Deformation behaviour of aluminium low-micron MMCs and MMNCs at warm working temperatures (0.3-0.5 Tm)

“…The ideal composite has an even distribution of the reinforcement phase throughout the matrix (Ferry, 2005), but generating this is a challenge when fabricating both MMCs and MMNCs. In MMCs, the micrometre-sized reinforcing particles tend to settle on the grain boundaries and in MMNCs the nano-sized reinforcing particles form agglomerates (Borgonovo and Apelian, 2011;Casati and Vedani, 2014).…”