Aluminum matrix

Metallurgy. Lithium forms alloys with numerous metals. Early uses of lithium alloys were made in Germany with the production of the lead alloy, BahnmetaH (0.04% Li), which was used for bearings for railroad cars, and the aluminum alloy, Scleron. In the United States, the aluminum alloy X-2020 (4.5% Cu, 1.1% Li, 0.5% Mn, 0.2% Cd, balance Al) was introduced in 1957 for stmctural components of naval aircraft. The lower density and stmctural strength enhancement of aluminum lithium alloys compared to normal aluminum alloys make it attractive for uses in airframes. A distinct lithium—aluminum phase (Al Li) forms in the alloy which bonds tightly to the host aluminum matrix to yield about a 10% increase in the modules of elasticity of the aluminum lithium alloys produced by the main aluminum producers. The density of the alloys is about 10% less than that of other stmctural aluminum alloys. 

An important appHcation of MMCs in the automotive area is in diesel piston crowns (53). This appHcation involves incorporation of short fibers of alumina or alumina—siHca in the crown of the piston. The conventional diesel engine piston has an Al—Si casting alloy with a crown made of a nickel cast iron. The replacement of the nickel cast iron by aluminum matrix composite results in a lighter, more abrasion resistant, and cheaper product. Another appHcation in the automotive sector involves the use of carbon fiber and alumina particles in an aluminum matrix for use as cylinder liners in the Prelude model of Honda Motor Co. 

Atmospheric corrosion is electrochemical ia nature and depends on the flow of current between anodic and cathodic areas. The resulting attack is generally localized to particular features of the metallurgical stmcture. Features that contribute to differences ia potential iaclude the iatermetaUic particles and the electrode potentials of the matrix. The electrode potentials of some soHd solutions and iatermetaUic particles are shown ia Table 26. Iron and sUicon impurities ia commercially pure aluminum form iatermetaUic coastitueat particles that are cathodic to alumiaum. Because the oxide film over these coastitueats may be weak, they can promote electrochemical attack of the surrounding aluminum matrix. The superior resistance to corrosion of high purity aluminum is attributed to the small number of these constituents. 

Developments in metal-matrix composites technology has resulted in aluminum matrix materials filled with siUcon carbide [409-21 -2] SiC, (see Carbides, silicon carbide) particles (15 to 60 vol %) that provide the possibihty of weight reduction for brakes (20). These composite materials are being tested and evaluated. 

The technique of rapid soHdification enables relatively large amounts of insoluble metallic elements to be finely dispersed within atomized powders. Upon freezing very small intermetaUic particles are formed, resulting, after further processing, in a high volume fraction of finely dispersed particles within the aluminum matrix and hence a dispersion strengthened aUoy. The intermetaUic phases, or possibly oxidic species, responsible for the dispersion strengthening are probably binary Al-Fe and ternary Al—Fe—Ce compounds. 

Let s address the issue of nonlinear material behavior, i.e., nonlinear stress-strain behavior. Where does this nonlinear material behavior come from Generally, any of the matrix-dominated properties will exhibit some degree of material nonlinearity because a matrix material is generally a plastic material, such as a resin or even a metal in a metal-matrix composite. For example, in a boron-aluminum composite material, recognize that the aluminum matrix is a metal with an inherently nonlinear stress-strain curve. Thus, the matrix-dominated properties, 3 and Gj2i generally have some level of nonlinear stress-strain curve. 

Bouix, J., Vincent, H., Boubehira, M., and Viala, J. C., Titanium Diboride-Coated Boron Fibre for Aluminum Matrix Composites, J. Less Common Metals, 117(l-2) 83-89 (Mar. 1986)... 

Tabic 8. Room temperature density (p, g/cm3) thermal conductivity (k, W/nvK) and electrical resistivity ( 2, microhm-cm) of various VGCF reinforced aluminum matrix composites. ... 

Figure 1. Mg5Si5 particles in am aluminum matrix, a. Overview. The needle-shape of the preeipitates is obvious, b. Single HREM image. The viewing direction is along the needle-axis. c. HREM image enhanced by through focus exit-wave reconstruction.

Johnston, W.D. and Greenfield, I.G. (1991). Evaluation of techniques for interface modification in aluminum matrix composites. In Proc. ICCM-VIII. Composites Design. Manufacture and Application (S.W. Tsai and G.S. Springer, eds.), SAMPE Pub., Paper 19E. 

Prewo, K.M. and McCarthy, G. (1972). Interfacial characterization of silicon carbide coated boron reinforced aluminum matrix composites.. /. Mater. Sci. 7, 919-928. 

Whiskers can be incorporated into the metallic matrix using a number of compositeprocessing techniques. Melt infiltration is a common technique used for the production of SiC whisker-aluminum matrix MMCs. In one version of the infiltration technique, the whiskers are blended with binders to form a thick slurry, which is poured into a cavity and vacuum-molded to form a pre-impregnation body, or pre-preg, of the desired shape. The cured slurry is then fired at elevated temperature to remove moisture and binders. After firing, the preform consists of a partially bonded collection of interlocked whiskers that have a very open structure that is ideal for molten metal penetration. The whisker preform is heated to promote easy metal flow, or infiltration, which is usually performed at low pressures. The infiltration process can be done in air, but is usually performed in vacuum. 

Assume that the conductivity of a undirectional, continuous fiber-reinforced composite is a summation effect just like elastic modulus and tensile strength that is, an equation analogous to Eq. (5.88) can be used to describe the conductivity in the axial direction, and one analogous to (5.92) can be used for the transverse direction, where the modulus is replaced with the corresponding conductivity of the fiber and matrix phase. Perform the following calculations for an aluminum matrix composite reinforced with 40 vol% continuous, unidirectional AI2O3 fibers. Use average conductivity values from Appendix 8. 

Aluminum spraying is used to coat less corrosion-resistant alloys. In the case of some composites, corrosion is due to the galvanic action between the aluminum matrix and the reinforcing material. Aluminum thermal spraying has been successfully used for the protection of the discontinous silicon carbide/aluminum composites, and continuous graphite/aluminum. Other protection procedures include sulfuric acid anodizing and iron vapor deposition on aluminum.44... 

S. Jannson and F. A. Leckie, Mechanical Behavior of a Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composite Subjected to Transverse and Thermal Loading, Journal of the Mechanics and. Physics of Solids, 40, 593-612 (1992). 

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