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Fabrication of Al-TiB2 Nanocomposites by Flux-Assisted Melt Stirring

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Abstract

The fabrication process for Al-TiB2 nanocomposites, in which TiB2 nanoparticles were incorporated into aluminum with K2ZrF6 flux-assisted melt stirring, was studied. The microstructure of the Al-TiB2 nanocomposites was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The strengthening effect of TiB2 nanoparticles on the aluminum matrix was examined by microhardness measurements. Results revealed that TiB2 nanoparticles were successfully incorporated and dispersed into the aluminum melt in the presence of the K2ZrF6 flux during mechanical stirring. In the as-cast microstructure, most nanoparticles segregated in the interdendritic regions as a result of particle redistribution during solidification. The addition of 2, 5, and 10 wt pct TiB2 nanoparticles increased the composite hardness by 60, 90, and 150 pct, respectively, when compared to commercial purity aluminum. The role of K2ZrF6 flux agent on the incorporation of nanoparticles into aluminum melt was discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and from Rio Tinto Alcan through the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Metallurgy of Aluminum Transformation at the University of Québec at Chicoutimi. The authors also thank Dr. Z. Zhang for his help in TEM observation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Science, University of Québec at Chicoutimi, Saguenay, QC, G7H 2B1, Canada

    Ahmed M. Nabawy (Post-Doctoral Fellow) & X.-Grant Chen (Professor)

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  1. Ahmed M. Nabawy
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  2. X.-Grant Chen
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Correspondence to X.-Grant Chen.

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Manuscript submitted November 13, 2014.

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Nabawy, A.M., Chen, XG. Fabrication of Al-TiB2 Nanocomposites by Flux-Assisted Melt Stirring. Metall Mater Trans B 46, 1596–1602 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-014-0289-3

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