Micromechanics-based thermal expansion characterization of SiC nanoparticle-reinforced metal matrix nanocomposites

Abstract

Understanding the structure–property relations for metal matrix nanocomposites reinforced with nanoparticles is a key factor for a reliable and optimal design of such new material systems. In the present study, coefficient of thermal expansion of silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticle-reinforced aluminum (Al) matrix nanocomposites is predicted using a three-dimensional unit cell based micromechanical approach. The model takes into account the aluminum carbide (Al4C3) interphase region formed due to the reaction between SiC nanoparticles and surrounding Al matrix. The effects of some critical parameters, including volume fraction and diameter of SiC nanoparticles, interphase features such as geometry and material properties on the coefficient of thermal expansion of Al nanocomposite are extensively investigated. The obtained results clearly reveal the high influence of the interphase region on the coefficient of thermal expansion of Al nanocomposite. Based on the simulation results, the coefficient of thermal expansion of Al nanocomposite nonlinearly decreases with the increase in the interphase thickness or decreasing SiC nanoparticles diameter. Furthermore, the role of interphase in the thermal expansion behavior of Al nanocomposite becomes more prominent with the reduction in the nanoparticle diameter. Also, the coefficient of thermal expansion of Al nanocomposite linearly decreases as SiC nanoparticle volume fraction increases.

Assessment of tool wear and mechanical properties of Al 7075 nanocomposite in friction stir processing (FSP)

“…Microhardness of SiC is 2840-3320 kg/mm 2 , and it is a semiconductor and resistant to oxidation in high temperature [22][23][24]. Also, the addition of silicon particles in the matrix will significantly improve the mechanical properties and thermal properties of the metal [25]. Figures 2 and 3 show, respectively, TEM image and X-ray of the SiC particles.…”

Effect of aluminum carbide interphase on the thermomechanical behavior of carbon nanotube/aluminum nanocomposites

“…This trend can be found for other nanocomposite systems available in the literature. 48 The effect of the change of CNT volume fraction inside Al matrix is considered, and different values of CTE of the nanocomposite are presented in Figure 6. Also, the figure includes the influence of Al 4 C 3 interphase on the thermomechanical response of the nanocomposites.…”

Effects of added SiO2 nanoparticles on the thermal expansion behavior of shape memory polymer nanocomposites

“…Thus, all local-stress and local-strain components in the sub-cells become constants. Another assumption is that the applied normal stresses on the RVE create no local shear stresses inside the sub-cells (Ansari et al, 2016a; Ansari and Hassanzadeh-Aghdam, 2016a, 2016b; Baxter and Robinson, 2011; Dhala and Ray, 2015; Falahatgar et al, 2009; Fralick et al, 2012; Hassanzadeh-Aghdam, 2018; Hassanzadeh-Aghdam et al, 2017; Kundalwal and Ray, 2012; Snipes et al, 2011). Note that in comparison with numerical techniques such as finite element method (FEM), the presented strength of material-based unit cell model requires much less computational cost (Ansari et al, 2016a).…”

“…Thus, one may use the present SUC approach for intuitive predictions of the effective properties of the composite systems. Other advantages of the presented SUC micromechanical model are simplicity and efficiency, applicable to elastic, viscoelastic, plastic, viscoplastic, thermal, electrical properties, extendable to different geometrics of reinforcement phase, considering some different materials simultaneously (Haghgoo et al, 2017, 2018; Hassanzadeh-Aghdam, 2018; Hassanzadeh-Aghdam et al, 2017; Mahmoodi et al, 2018).…”