Structure and properties of Zn-Al-Cu alloy reinforced with alumina particles Article uri icon

abstract

  • Metal matrix composites were prepared using Zn-21Al-2Cu (zinalco) as base alloy, by means of powder metallurgy techniques. Alumina particles were used as reinforcement in concentrations of 7, 14 and 27%25 in volume. The composites prepared using this technique exhibit good consolidation even before sintering. Samples of the base alloy and of the different composites were sintered in air at 473 K in periods of 10, 20, 40 and 80 h. Measurements of density, hardness and yield strength in compression were performed in green and sintered materials. A decrease of 30%25 in density is achieved for the 27 vol.%25 alumina composite compared with the unreinforced base alloy. An improvement of 13%25 in the values of conventional yield strength and hardness is shown for the composite with 7 vol.%25 alumina deformed at a strain rate of 10-3 s-1 and after 20 h of sintering time. At higher strain rates, the ductility of unreinforced and composite materials is reduced for all alumina concentrations. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

publication date

  • 2003-01-01