Application of the nanopowder production of azide SHS technology for the reinforcement and modification of aluminum alloys

The survey for types and fabrication methods of aluminum matrix composite materials discretely reinforced with ceramic particles and nanoparticles of refractory compounds is given. It is shown that the azide technology of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS-Az), which uses sodium azide NaN3 as a solid nitriding agent, makes it possible to fabricate numerous comparatively inexpensive micropowders and nanopowders of nitrides, carbonitrides, carbides, and their compositions, which are of interest for the reinforcement and modification of aluminum alloy. Along with the mentioned target ceramic particles, the SHS-Az product contains side haloid salts (sodium and potassium chlorides and fluorides), which can play the role of fluxes with the addition of ceramic particles into the aluminum melt. The results of experiments on the introduction of the nanopowder composition into the melt of AK6M2 alloy, %, beta-SiC 48.6, alpha-Si3N4 27.0, beta-Si3N4 5.8, and Na3AlF6 18.6 in the composition of the compacted pseudo-master alloy with the copper powder, which evidence the modifying effect, are presented.