Spark Plasma Sintering of Aluminum-Based Composites Reinforced by Nanocrystalline Carbon-Coated Intermetallic Particles

Aluminum Matrix Composites reinforced with
nanocrystalline Ni3Al carbon-coated intermetallic particles, were
synthesized by powder metallurgy. Powder mixture of aluminum
with 0.5-volume fraction of reinforcement particles was compacted
by spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique and the compared with
conventional sintering process. The better results for SPS technique
were obtained in 520ºC-5kN-3min.The hardness (70.5±8 HV) and the
elastic modulus (95 GPa) were evaluated in function of sintering
conditions for SPS technique; it was found that the incorporation of
these kind of reinforcement particles in aluminum matrix improve its
mechanical properties. The densities were about 94% and 97% of the
theoretical density. The carbon coating avoided the interfacial
reaction between matrix-particle at high temperature (520°C) without
show composition change either intermetallic dissolution.

• B. Z. Manuel
• H. D. Esmeralda
• H. S. Felipe
• D. R. Héctor
• D. de la Torre Sebastián
• R. L. Diego

• Aluminum matrix composites
• Intermetallics Spark plasma sintering.

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