Nucleation Catalysis Potency of Ceramic Nanoparticles in Aluminum Matrix Nanocomposites

Michael P. De Cicco*, John H. Perepezko, Lih Sheng Turng, Xiaochun Li

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

The nanoparticles in metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) were shown to catalyze nucleation of solidification. Nanoparticles of SiC, TiC, and γ-Al2O3 were dispersed in an aluminum alloy A356 matrix using an ultrasonic processing technique. The droplet emulsion technique was used to examine the undercooling in each matrix-nanoparticle system. Despite their small sizes, the nanoparticles demonstrated the ability to significantly reduce the necessary undercooling for nucleation. In general, the degree of undercooling in the MMNCs containing SiC, TiC and γ- Al2O3 was in agreement with the free growth undercooling. The nucleation catalysis by the nanoparticles resulted in significantly refined microstructures. The grain refining effectiveness of nanoparticles was also examined in pure Al and Al-10Mg using TlC0.7N0.3 nanoparticles. In both pure Al and Al-10Mg the nanoparticle addition significantly reduced the average grain size of the matrix. Comparison was made to the commonly used A1-5Ti-B grain refiner. At the addition levels used, the nanoparticles were more effective than the A1-5Ti-B grain refiner.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSupplemental Proceedings
Subtitle of host publicationMaterials Fabrication, Properties, Characterization, and Modeling
PublisherJohn Wiley and Sons Inc
Pages737-744
Number of pages8
Volume2
ISBN (Electronic)9781118062142
ISBN (Print)9781118029466
DOIs
StatePublished - 20 04 2011
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2011 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.

Keywords

  • Free Growth
  • Grain Refinement
  • Nanocomposite
  • Nucleation

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