Processing of In Situ Aluminium Matrix Composites by Micropyretic Reactive Sintering

In situ aluminium matrix composites were processed by the micropyretic reactions between the host aluminium matrix and powder containing nanodimensional Fe2O3 crystallites used as the precursor compound. Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC), studies have shown, use of nanosized Fe2O3 crystallites has decreased the initiation temperature of the in situ micropyretic reaction and the desirable reinforcements; iron-aluminide and alumina are formed during sintering. Microstructural features of the composite consist of well-dispersed reinforcements in the host Al matrix with size less than 1 µm. Wear tests performed on the composite samples have revealed coefficient of friction and wear volume can be reduced significantly by incorporating 20 vol% reinforcement.