Influence of a discrete additive of aluminum oxide on structure and properties of aluminum alloy

Abstract

On the basis of the literature review, there were identified the problem and the relevance of the development of the technology for introducing additives of nano-sized fillers into aluminum alloys in order to determine the mechanism for controlling the structurally dependent properties. As such an additive, alumina fibers of 10-20 nm in diameter were selected. The introduction of the additive into the liquid alloy is implemented by means of mechanical mixing. Technological features of the process allowed to solve the problem of overcoming the forces of surface tension and distribution of additives, which are quantitatively small and light in comparison with the main material. Experimental samples were obtained under laboratory conditions using the specially designed equipment. To perform the comparative analysis, samples of the base alloy of the composition AK6 and filled with a discrete additive of 1 % alloy of the same composition were obtained in identical modes. Investigations of the structure and properties of the base alloy and samples obtained by mixing in the base alloy of thin discrete alumina fibers in a volume of 1 % were performed using standard metallographic analysis techniques and a hardness measurement method. As a result of macro- and microscopic studies, a modifying effect was found from the addition of finely dispersed Al2O3 to an aluminum alloy, which manifested as grain refinement. The shape of the hardness distribution curves obtained as a result of the processing of statistical data is identical for the compared samples and has a pronounced shifted extremum, which indicates changes in the properties on the one hand and demonstrates a sufficient level of assimilation of the additives by the liquid alloy, on the other. Consequently, the expediency of using the suggested method of modification for obtaining materials of this group is obvious.