Nanoreinforced Cast Al-Si Alloys with Al2O3, TiO2 and ZrO2 Nanoparticles

This study presents a new concept of refining and enhancing the properties of cast aluminum alloys by adding nanoparticles. In this work, the effect of adding alumina (Al2O3), titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zirconia (ZrO2) nano-particles (40 nm) to the aluminum cast alloy A356 as a base metal matrix was investigated. Alumina, titanium dioxide and zirconia nano-powders were stirred in the A356 matrix with different fraction ratios ranging from (0%-5%) by weight at variable stirring speeds ranging from (270, 800, 1500, 2150 rpm) in both the semisolid (600 degrees C) and liquid (700 degrees C) state using a constant stirring time of one minute. The cast microstructure exhibited change of grains from dendritic to spherical shape with increasing stirring speed. The fracture surface showed the presence of nanoparticles at the interdendritic spacing of the fracture surface and was confirmed with EDX analysis of these particles. The results of the study showed that the mechanical properties (strength, elongation and hardness) for the nanoreinforced castings using Al2O3, TiO2 and ZrO2 were enhanced for the castings made in the semi-solid state (600 degrees C) with 2 weight% Al2O3 and 3 weight% TiO2 or ZrO2 at 1500 rpm stirring speed.