Evaluation of Zr- and Ti-containing Aluminum-Boron Carbide composites as materials for elevated temperature performance in engineering applications

含 Zr 和 Ti 的铝碳化硼复合材料作为工程应用中高温性能材料的评估

• 批准号: RGPIN-2014-05342
• 负责人: Samuel, Fawzy
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=638164
• 关键词: Evaluation; Zr; Ti; containing; Aluminum

The constant need to enhance the performance of critical components used in the automotive, aerospace and other industries has been the driving force behind the development of improved high-performance structural materials. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have emerged as a promising group of materials for such applications. Two commonly used metal matrices are those of Al and Ti, which have low densities and are available in a variety of alloy forms. However, the high cost of Ti alloys limits their application to those cases where performance is the main goal irrespective of cost. The reinforcements added to produce the composite are carbides, oxides and nitrides, selected for their excellent combinations of specific strength and stiffness at ambient and elevated temperatures. Aluminum MMCs provide both light weight, courtesy of the Al matrix, and enhanced strength, stiffness and wear resistance through the reinforcement. While SiC and Al2O3 have been more commonly used as the reinforcement, the more recently introduced B4C is both the lightest and the hardest of the three, making it a viable choice with respect to the reduced weight criterion so prevalent in today’s industry. The enhanced elevated-temperature strength and favorable neutron absorption characteristics of Al-B4C composites are strong points which justify investigating their suitability for use in both current and emerging applications. For successful commercialization of any developed product, cost-effectiveness and affordability are important factors to consider. Keeping this point in mind, and based on the applicant’s extensive expertise in the study of SiC and Al2O3 particulate-reinforced Al MMCs, together with experience gained from recent studies on the behavior of Al alloys containing Zr, Ti and Sc additions, the proposed study aims to investigate Al-B4C MMCs containing Zr and Ti additions as potential materials for use in engineering applications requiring stable high temperature performance. A range of Al-B4C composite alloys will be prepared using a) pure Al and b) 6061 alloy as the matrix, with Ti and Zr additions, employing the molten metal processing route; the 6061 alloy was selected for evaluating the feasibility of rolling these materials into sheets for use in car body applications, etc. A powder injection technique will be used to inject the reinforcement particulate into the molten metal. This technique was invented and successfully applied by the applicant in 1990. The fluidity of these composites at various melt temperatures will be characterized and analyzed in terms of the interfacial reactions (i.e. wettability) between reinforcement and matrix, using extensive transmission electron microscopy. The high temperature performance will be studied by monitoring the precipitation behavior in heat-treated samples using TEM for examining the nano-sized strengthening Al-Zr/Ti precipitates. Other important properties, such as hardness and impact toughness, will also be investigated for a complete characterization of these materials. The experimental data obtained will provide valuable input for modeling the microstructure/property relations in such composite materials. An equally important component of this undertaking will be the training of high qualified personnel in this specialized area of research. The fundamental, scientific and technological aspects of data generated by this project will impact both academic and industrial sectors and thereby the Canadian economy as a result.

不断需要提高汽车、航空航天和其他行业中使用的关键部件的性能，这是开发改进的高性能结构材料背后的推动力。金属基复合材料（MMCs）已成为一种很有前途的应用材料。两种常用的金属基体是Al和Ti，它们具有低密度，可用于各种合金形式。然而，钛合金的高成本限制了其应用于那些以性能为主要目标而不考虑成本的情况。为生产复合材料而添加的增强剂是碳化物、氧化物和氮化物，选择它们是因为它们在环境和高温下具有出色的比强度和刚度组合。铝制mmc不仅重量轻，而且通过强化增强了强度、刚度和耐磨性。虽然SiC和Al2O3更常用作增强材料，但最近推出的B4C是三者中最轻和最硬的，使其成为当今工业中普遍存在的减轻重量标准的可行选择。Al-B4C复合材料增强的高温强度和良好的中子吸收特性是研究其在当前和新兴应用中的适用性的优点。对于任何已开发产品的成功商业化，成本效益和可负担性是需要考虑的重要因素。考虑到这一点，并基于申请人在SiC和Al2O3颗粒增强Al MMCs研究方面的广泛专业知识，以及最近在含有Zr， Ti和Sc添加剂的铝合金行为研究中获得的经验，提出的研究旨在研究含有Zr和Ti添加剂的Al- b4c MMCs作为需要稳定高温性能的工程应用的潜在材料。采用熔融金属加工工艺，以A)纯Al和b) 6061合金为基体，添加Ti和Zr，制备了一系列Al- b4c复合合金；选择6061合金是为了评估将这些材料轧制成薄板用于汽车车身等应用的可行性。将采用粉末注射技术将增强颗粒注入熔融金属中。该技术由申请人于1990年发明并成功应用。这些复合材料在不同熔体温度下的流动性将被表征，并根据增强剂和基体之间的界面反应（即润湿性）进行分析，使用广泛的透射电子显微镜。高温性能的研究将通过监测热处理样品的析出行为，利用透射电镜检测纳米级强化Al-Zr/Ti相。其他重要的性能，如硬度和冲击韧性，也将研究这些材料的完整表征。获得的实验数据将为模拟此类复合材料的微观结构/性能关系提供有价值的输入。这项工作的一个同样重要的组成部分将是培训这一专门研究领域的高素质人员。该项目产生的数据的基础、科学和技术方面将影响学术和工业部门，从而影响加拿大经济。