CAST ALUMINUM STRENGTHENING BY NANOMATERIALS

The novel approach of influence on aluminum alloys structure formation by various nanomaterials affecting the solidification process will be discussed. Fine microstructure of the Al alloys has been obtained as the result of the direct influence of the nanomaterials addition to the metal solidification.

It has been found that aluminum alloys mechanical properties improved after addition of relatively small amount of nanomaterials. The obtained results show unusual behavior, under which the elongation increases while metals strength remained unchanged. We found that grain-size strengthening mechanism is responsible in the process. A high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) study indicated high concentration of dislocations near grain boundaries in the modified alloys which serve as obstacles to dislocation motion.