<em>In-situ </em>reactions in hybrid aluminum alloy composites during incorporating silica sand in aluminum alloy melts

Afsaneh Dorri Moghadam; J.B. Ferguson; Benjamin F. Schultz; Pradeep K. Rohatgi; Afsaneh Dorri Moghadam; J.B. Ferguson; Benjamin F. Schultz; Pradeep K. Rohatgi

doi:10.3934/matersci.2016.3.954

AIMS Materials Science

2016, Volume 3, Issue 3: 954-964. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2016.3.954

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In-situ reactions in hybrid aluminum alloy composites during incorporating silica sand in aluminum alloy melts

College of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States

Received: 24 May 2016 Accepted: 18 July 2016 Published: 19 July 2016

In order to gain a better understanding of the reactions and strengthening behavior in cast aluminum alloy/silica composites synthesized by stir mixing, experiments were conducted to incorporate low cost foundry silica sand into aluminum composites with the use of Mg as a wetting agent. SEM and XRD results show the conversion of SiO₂ to MgAl₂O₄ and some Al₂O₃ with an accompanying increase in matrix Si content. A three-stage reaction mechanism proposed to account for these changes indicates that properties can be controlled by controlling the base Alloy/SiO₂/Mg chemistry and reaction times. Experimental data on changes of composite density with increasing reaction time and SiO₂ content support the three-stage reaction model. The change in mechanical properties with composition and time is also described.
- silica sand,
- magnesium,
- aluminum matrix composite,
- microstructure,
- reactive wetting
Citation: Afsaneh Dorri Moghadam, J.B. Ferguson, Benjamin F. Schultz, Pradeep K. Rohatgi. In-situ reactions in hybrid aluminum alloy composites during incorporating silica sand in aluminum alloy melts[J]. AIMS Materials Science, 2016, 3(3): 954-964. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2016.3.954

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Abstract

In order to gain a better understanding of the reactions and strengthening behavior in cast aluminum alloy/silica composites synthesized by stir mixing, experiments were conducted to incorporate low cost foundry silica sand into aluminum composites with the use of Mg as a wetting agent. SEM and XRD results show the conversion of SiO₂ to MgAl₂O₄ and some Al₂O₃ with an accompanying increase in matrix Si content. A three-stage reaction mechanism proposed to account for these changes indicates that properties can be controlled by controlling the base Alloy/SiO₂/Mg chemistry and reaction times. Experimental data on changes of composite density with increasing reaction time and SiO₂ content support the three-stage reaction model. The change in mechanical properties with composition and time is also described.

References

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