EVALUATING THE FEASIBILITY OF MAKING ALUMINIUM ALLOY NANOMODIFIERS BY THE METHOD OF MECHANICAL ALLOYING

Nanomaterials extend the range of their application in human activities. The past few years have faced a considerable increase of interest in various aspects of the application of nanotechnology in liquid phase metallurgy, especially in metalcasting. Nanocrystalline materials are fabricated not only by the advanced solidification techniques with application of ultra-high solidification rates, or by modern techniques of spraying. Other processes used so far for the manufacture of products from metals, metal alloys and composites, like the common gravity casting, may also form nanocrystalline phases in alloy structure by the in situ mechanism of phase formation. Quite promising is the possibility of application in foundry industry of nanomaterials in vitro, e.g. as a reinforcing phase in metal matrix composites, or in new generation modifiers for metals and alloys. This article presents the results of the tests carried out to produce nanoparticle materials for aluminium alloys modification. The alloy nucleation on nanosize particles guarantees obtaining a fine-grain structure in the treated material. The modifiers were fabricated by mechanical disintegration and alloying of pure aluminium powder with titanium-, carbon-, SiC- and/or boron-bearing compounds. The scope of the research covered: • tests of mechanical alloying of the aluminium-based powders with carbon, titanium and boron added in different weight fractions; • structural examinations of the modifiers (chemical composition, grain size).

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