Thermal Management of Reinforcements for Novel Microstructures and Interfaces in Cast Metal Matrix Composites

在本研究中，通过增强纤维吸热，将在选定的铝基复合材料中产生新的微观组织和界面。通过传热学和流体流动分析，设计了在已渗透的复合材料固化过程中通过增强纤维取热的实验。实验将用铝-4.5%铜合金中的碳纤维进行。一束碳纤维将被渗透，一部分丝束从铸件中延伸出来。铝碳复合材料样品将被放置在坩埚中，纤维丝束从熔体中延伸出来，重新熔化和再结晶，丝束的一部分从复合材料中延伸出来，作为热提取的来源。复合材料的金相检查将在再结晶后进行，以确定界面的性质、初生相层的厚度、晶粒度和枝晶尺寸作为工艺参数的函数。实验观察将被用来验证和修正关于增强纤维取热的理论工作。本研究获得的实验结果将包括复合材料中通过增强纤维吸热时形成的新型界面和基体组织的表征。该知识库可以为具有新颖的基体微结构和通过纤维热抽提产生的界面的改进复合材料提供指导。

In this research, new microstructures and interfaces will be created in selected aluminum matrix composites by extracting heat through reinforcing fibers. Heat transfer and fluid flow analysis will be done to design experiments on extracting heat through reinforcing fibers during solidification of an already infiltrated composite. Experiments will be done with carbon fibers in aluminum- 4.5% Copper alloy. A tow of carbon fibers will be infiltrated, with a portion of the tow extending out of the casting. The aluminum carbon composite sample will be placed in a crucible, with the tow of fibers extending out of the melt, remelted and resolidified with the portion of the tow extending out of the composite, acting as a source of heat extraction. Metallographic examination of the composites will be done after resolidification to determine the nature of the interface, thickness of the primary phase layer, grain size, and dendrite size as a function of the processing parameters. The experimental observations will be used to validate and modify the theoretical work onextraction of heat through reinforcing fibers. The experimental results obtained in this study will include characterization of new type interfaces and matrix microstructures formed in the composites when heat is extracted through reinforcing fibers. The knowledge base could lead the way for improved composites with novel matrix microstructures and interfaces produced by heat extraction through the fibers.