Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
Volume 2015 (2015), Article ID 718207, 6 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/718207

Research Article

Synthesis of Micro- and Nanoparticles of Metal Oxides and Their Application for Reinforcement of Al-Based Alloys

S. Vorozhtsov,¹ I. Zhukov,¹ A. Vorozhtsov,¹ A. Zhukov,¹ D. Eskin,1,2 and A. Kvetinskaya¹

¹National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
²Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology, Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK

Received 20 June 2014; Revised 4 September 2014; Accepted 10 September 2014

Academic Editor: Wim Sillekens

Copyright © 2015 S. Vorozhtsov et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

This paper presents a comparative analysis of morphology, chemical and phase compositions, and particle size distribution of nanopowders produced by electric explosion of wire (EEW) and plasma-chemical methods. The possibility of introduction of Al₂O₃ particles into Al alloy by means of a special master alloy and with ultrasonic processing is shown. The improvement of tensile properties of an Al-based composite material reinforced with 0.1 wt% of EEW Al₂O₃ is demonstrated.

1. Introduction

Development of lightweight materials with a wide range of improved properties makes it possible to use new high strength parts and structures and significantly improve energy efficiency and product design (vehicle weight reduction, reduction of material consumption for production, etc.) [1, 2]. Composite materials based on Al light alloys represent a metal matrix with specified distribution of reinforcing elements (particles, fibers, etc.). In this case individual properties of components of such composites are used efficiently (to the maximum extent). One of the possible and promising methods of improving the physical and mechanical properties (Young’s modulus, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, hardness, durability, and specific electrical and thermal properties) of Al-based metal-matrix composites (MMC) is the introduction of micro- and nanoparticles of oxides (nitrides, borides, and carbides) into the melt with subsequent solidification [2–6]. Methods of production of nonmetallic micro- and nanoparticles can significantly affect morphology and physical properties of nanopowders. Thus, the particle structure, phase composition, and morphology are to be studied carefully in order to assure the properties of alloys produced using these particles.

It is known that direct introduction of nonmetallic particles (especially nanosized ones) into liquid metal is hindered by the fact that they are prone to agglomeration caused by their low wettability by liquid metal. This problem can be solved in two ways, by using special concentrated master alloys as well as by using external fields acting on liquid metals with particles which leads to deagglomeration of nanoparticles and their homogeneous distribution in the melt volume and eventually ingot structure. Ultrasonic treatment is one of the efficient ways of melt treatment leading to alloy grain size reduction and homogeneous distribution of reinforcing particles in its structure [7, 8]. The use of master alloys produced by means of shockwave (SW) compaction method is of current interest in alloy casting [9, 10]. This method makes it possible to obtain dense compacted material (with the density close to theoretical value) with simultaneous introduction of required quantities of reinforcing and modifying particles into the mixture. The concentrated master alloy can then be used for introduction of a measured amount of reinforcement into the melt, also using ultrasonic processing.

The main objective of this work is to synthesize oxide nanoparticle, that is, Al₂O₃, ZrO₂-Y₂O₃ powders, to analyze their structure and properties and to demonstrate the possibility of making an Al-based MMC using these powders.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Production of Nanopowders

Two methods were used for production of micro- and nanoparticles of oxides, that is, plasma-chemical and electrical explosion of wire (EEW).

In plasma-chemical method fine powders were synthesized by means of thermochemical decomposition of liquid sprayed agents in a high-temperature heat transfer medium. The process of synthesis takes place in a column-type direct-flow cylindrical reactor. Water solution of a salt (e.g., aluminum nitrate hydrate ) is used as an initial agent (precursor). Supply of solution to the reactor chamber is performed via a centrifugal atomizer, providing droplets of sprayed agent with required dispersion. High-frequency plasmatron (with air or argon as a plasma forming gas) is used as a high-temperature heat transfer medium generator. Managing the temperature field structure in the reactor volume is the main control parameter for the evolution of droplet medium and particle morphology.

Nanooxides are also produced using EEW method by means of passing the current pulse with a density of 1–1000 MA/cm². The metal of the wire heats up to the melting point and melts with subsequent explosive destruction. The process is accompanied by metal atomization and a shockwave formed in the gas surrounding the wire. Depending on the nature of the gas and material of the wire, the EEW process makes it possible to obtain nanopowders of metals, alloys, or compounds. The process parameters which determine average size of nanoparticles are EEW energy content (: energy delivered to the wire, : energy of metal sublimation); wire diameter; gas medium pressure; and gas medium temperature. In the developed reactor design, the final product (nanopowder) is evacuated from the chamber by means of gas flows formed as a result of explosion. A special separator is used to screen out coarse particles (having the size greater than 200 nm).

2.2. Structural Analysis Methods

The structure of powders was studied using a Philips SEM 515 scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a JEM 2100 transmission electron microscope (TEM). The average size of powder particles was measured using the random linear intercept method [11].

The study of the phase composition and structural parameters of powders was performed using an X-ray diffractometer with CuKα radiation. Calculation of coherent scattering region (CSR) and microdistortion of the crystal lattice was performed using Williamson-Hall method [12] where all broadenings in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) profile were used for calculation. Phases were identified by comparing peaks of X-ray spectra with ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) card file. Specific surface area of powders was measured by BET method using a Sorbi analyzer with the measurement error not exceeding 3%.

2.3. Production of Shock-Wave-Master Alloys and Al-Composite Alloys

A possibility of making a shock-wave (SW) concentrated master alloy with nanoparticles and using it in production of nanocomposites was tested on the Al-Al₂O₃ system. An Al-10 wt% Al₂O₃ (EEW) powder mixture was premixed in a ball mill and then placed into an Al tube with a length of 400 mm and a diameter of 20 mm. A pure Al micropowder with an average particle size of 20 μm was used as a matrix material of the master alloy (90%). A powder mixture with the given composition was densely pressed into Al tube; both ends of the tube were then hermetically sealed. Compacted explosive was put into the cup 50 mm above the tube. A standard electric detonator was installed in the middle of this layer at a 20 mm depth. Total mass of explosive was around 860 g. The assembly was put into the blast chamber on a metal plate, detonator was connected to initiation circuit, the chamber was closed, and the assembly was detonated. The density of the compacted master alloy was 2.6-2.7 g/cm³, that is, close to the theoretical value for aluminum. More detailed description of this experiment is given in [10].

An aluminum alloy Al-4 wt% Cu was melted in a graphite crucible with a total melt volume of 750 g. Ultrasonic degassing was performed at the melt temperature of 730°C for 1 minute. Then, SW-master alloy Al-10 wt% Al₂O₃ was introduced into the cavitation zone in the melt simultaneously with ultrasonic treatment. The latter was performed using a 5 kW water-cooled magnetostrictive transducer with a working frequency of 17.5 kHz. Conical radiator with a working null-peak amplitude of about 30 μm was made of niobium. The melt was treated with ultrasound for 2 minutes at 730°C after introduction of the master alloy. Then the obtained mixture was poured at 710°C into a metallic mold with the cavity size of ⌀30 × 110 mm. The nominal nanoparticles content in the alloy was 0.1 wt%. A reference sample was produced using similar processing parameters but without master alloy introduction.

Flat tensile samples with the dimensions of 1 mm thickness and working part 40 mm were cut from cylindrical castings and tested in a tensile machine Instron 3369 at a strain rate of 2 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹. Guaranteed frame stiffness for this machine corresponds to 250 kN load, load accuracy of 0.5% of indicated load. Ultimate load during specimen testing procedures did not exceed 1.5 kN. Three samples were tested for each condition.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Powders

Nanopowders produced using plasma-chemical method represented a structure formed by individual spherical particles and bulk aggregated loose substance consisting of particles having irregular form (Figures 1 and 2).

(a)

(b)

Figure 1: Powder Al₂O₃-plasma: SEM image (a); X-ray pattern (b).

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 2: Powder ZrO₂ (Y₂O₃)-plasma: SEM image (a); TEM image (b); particle size distribution (c); X-ray pattern (d).

Alumina powder (Figure 1(a)) has a nonuniform morphology and contains quasi-foam agglomerates with a smooth surface and sizes in the range of tens of nanometers to tens of micrometers. There are also separate spherical particles, hollow particles (wall thickness less than 10 nm), and solid fragments. Agglomerates can be divided into the following groups:

(1)quasi-foam particles consisting of semitransparent spherical formations with an internal free volume and a size of 5 μm,(2)solid spherical particles with the sizes of (0.2–5) μm,(3)hollow porous polycrystalline spheres with the size of 1 μm.

The BET surface of plasma-chemical powder has been measured to amount to 60 m²/g.

Phase analysis (Figure 1(b)) has indicated that alumina powder is in a highly nonequilibrium state and contains 5 structural modifications: rhombic (α), cubic (γ), tetragonal, hexagonal (ε), and monoclinic (θ). According to XRD analysis data the size of coherent scattering regions of alumina powder is approximately 30 nm. The crystal lattice microdistortion is 5 × 10⁻³.

ZrO₂ (Y₂O₃) powder was a solid solution of 97% ZrO₂-3% Y₂O₃ composition and was obtained by plasma-chemical method. According to electron microscopy (Figures 2(a) and 2(b)), ZrO₂ (Y₂O₃) powder consisted of isolated spherical particles and numerous aggregates composed of particles without regular shape. Particle distribution for ZrO₂ (Y₂O₃) powders is unimodal (Figure 2(c)). The majority of the particles range in size from 0.5 to 2 μm; some particles have a size of 14 μm. Average particle size is 1.5 μm with the BET surface area being 7 m²/g.

According to X-ray analysis (Figure 2(d)), the powder contained tetragonal and monoclinic phases of zirconia. The tetragonal phase of zirconia prevailed, its share in the powder being 90%. The size of coherent scattering region of X-rays in tetragonal and monoclinic phases was 20 nm. The crystal lattice microdistortion value was 2.4 × 10⁻³ and the lattice parameters were and  .

The comparison of ZrO₂ tetragonal phase lattice parameters with the values given in work [13] showed that the values of lattice parameters for zirconia powder obtained by plasma-chemical synthesis correspond to the values reported for tetragonal phase in the powders composed of ZrO₂ + 3 mol. % Y₂O₃.

X-ray phase analysis shows that Al₂O₃ powders produced using EEW method completely consist ofα-Al₂O₃ phase. The BET surface area is equal to 35–40 m²/g. Typical image of particles of the powder is shown in Figure 3(a). As it can be seen, the particles in the powder are not agglomerated and have a regular spherical shape. Particle size distribution bar chart is shown in Figure 3(b). Average particle size ; surface average size ; mass average size . These powders are much more suitable for introduction in a metallic matrix than that for a composite material.

(a)

(b)

Figure 3: Powder Al₂O₃-EEW: TEM image (a); particle size distribution (b).

3.2. Al-Based Composite Alloy with Al₂O₃ Nanoparticles

Al₂O₃-EEW nanoparticles were used as reinforcing particles for introduction into an Al alloy. Densely compacted master alloy containing 10 wt% of nanoparticles was introduced into the Al melt with simultaneous ultrasonic processing. The microstructure of an Al-4 wt% Cu-0.1 wt% Al₂O₃ alloy is given in Figure 4. As it can be seen, there are Al₂O₃ particle agglomerates, evenly distributed spherical particles, and small pores up to 10 μm in size in as-cast structure. Note that the grain size and general microstructural appearance of the alloy did not change. The residual porosity of as-cast alloys and composites did not exceed 2%.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 4: Microstructure of the as-cast composite material Al-4 wt% Cu + 0.1 wt% Al₂O₃ ((a), (b)) and stress-strain diagrams of this composite material in comparison with the matrix (c).

The stress-strain tensile curves for produced samples are given in Figure 4(c). As it can be seen, the introduction of 0.1% Al₂O₃ nanoparticles into the alloy leads to simultaneous improvement of yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and ductility. Moreover, alloy hardness also increases from 570 to 710 MPa. The structure of the composite material is still far from being optimal with nanoparticles agglomerates and associated porosity. The simultaneous increase in strength and ductility can be attributed to a more homogeneous strain distribution upon deformation due to the interaction of dislocations with the particles. The procedure of composite material manufacturing should be further optimized to assure more complete deagglomeration of particles.

4. Conclusion

The possibility of production of micro- and nanopowders of metal oxides Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂ (Y₂O₃) by electric explosion of wire (EEW) and plasma-chemical methods is shown. Powders produced by plasma-chemical method are characterized with large irregular shapes and severe agglomeration. In contrast, Al₂O₃ particles in the powder produced by EEW method are not agglomerated and have regular spherical shape and average size of 36 nm.

It is found that introduction through a concentrated master alloy of 0.1 wt% Al₂O₃ nanoparticles into an Al alloy leads to improvement of mechanical properties of the resultant MMC.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgments

The work was financially supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation within the framework of the Federal Target Program, Agreement no. 14.578.21.0025, and within the framework of ExoMet Project, which is cofunded by the European Commission and partners in the 7th Framework Program (Contract FP7-NMP3-LA-2012-280421).

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