Prediction of porous Al/SiC nanocomposite creep behavior via the mechanical alloying process

Abstract

In the present study, mechanical alloying was successfully employed to produce aluminum matrix composite reinforced with nano SiC. Considering the three mechanisms of deformation, welding and fracture of powders which influence the process, the equilibrium time between welding and fracture or the steady state time is an important factor and milling parameters can affect the steady state time. In this study, the steady state time of mechanical alloying of composites with 3.5, 4 and 5 vol% nano reinforcement SiC has been obtained using an X-ray diffraction analyzer, optical microscopy and particle analyzer. Also the compression creep rate of these composites showed the effect of nano SiC reinforcement on compression creep rate decrease and lower steady state time of Al-4vol%SiC and nano SiC clustering on compression creep rate increase and higher steady state time of Al-5vol%SiC composite. On the other hand, mechanical alloying process can predict the compression creep behavior of porous Al/SiC nano composite.