Projects / Programmes
Development of lightweight, super-hard composites based on almgb14-xtib2
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.04.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Materials science and technology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T152 |
Technological sciences |
Composite materials |
Synthesis of sinteractive AlMgB14plusTiB2 powders; Pressureless sintering of AlMgB14plusTiB2 powders; Super-hard, lightweight and superabrasive composite materials; mechanical alloying and hot pressing; Reactive sintering, Carbothermal reduction, Reactive pressureless infiltration of porous ceramic preform; Synthesis by immersion of ceramic particles into Al-Mg melt; Microhardness measurement; Microstructural characterisation
Researchers (7)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
The aim of the research proposal is the fabrication and the microstructural and mechanical characterisation of a new class of lightweight, super-hard composite materials based on AlMgB14-xTiB2 (x is 5-30 mol. %). The following methods of synthesis will be investigated for the fabrication of AlMgB14-xTiB2 powders and sintered bodies: (i) mechanical alloying of B, Al, Mg elelments, milling of a baseline sample with TiB2 doping agent and consolidation of the loose powder with hot isostatic pressing , (ii) reactive pressureless sintering of previously mechanicaly alloyed mixtures of B, Al and Mg, as well as AlB12 and MgB2, both doped with the same amount of TiB2 powders, (iii) carbothermal reduction of Al2O3, MgO, B2O3 and TiO2 oxides, mixed together with boron and carbon, (iv) pressureless infiltration of molten Al-Mg into porous BplusTiB2 preforms in combination with reactive pressureless sintering, and (v) immersion of fine boron particles dopped with TiB2, into an Al-Mg melt by mechanical stirring.AlMgB14-xTiB2 represents a new class of lightweight, ultra-hard, superabrasive composites, with hardness values of 40 GPa or greater, which is among the hardest substances known. Due to that, AlMgB14-xTiB2 could be a promising, cost effective alternative to cubic boron nitride for industrial grinding, as an new reinforcing phase in aluminum and magnesium-based structural composites, as well as a raw material for thermal spray and laser deposition techniques. The main novelty of the approach proposed in this work is the development of scale-up industrial procedures of AlMgB14plus-xTiB2 sinteractive powder preparation, including the single step production of some near net shape products. Beside lower fabrication costs and higer productivity, the main advantage of the proposed fabrication routes is avoidance of difficult machining for shaping the final products. Pressureless sintering of AlMgB14-xTiB2 near net shape bodies, an additional research novelty, will also be investigated.
