Comparative Analysis of Microscale and Nanoscale Alumina Reinforcement in Al-Cu-Mg-Al2O3 Composites: Impacts on Density, Porosity, and Hardness

Abstract

In contemporary transportation and automotive industries, the demand for materials featuring optimal physical and mechanical properties coupled with reduced weight is paramount.This study investigates the influence of alumina reinforcement, utilizing powders of varying particle sizes, on the properties of Al-Cu-Mg composite materials.Specifically, the effects of incorporating alumina powder with a particle size of 56μm and 20nm, each at a volume ratio of 1%, into Al-Cu-Mg composite alloys were examined.The density of the composites was assessed employing the Archimedes principle, while their porosity and microhardness were also evaluated.Additionally, the composites underwent SEM characterization, quantitative analysis, and EDS mapping.The findings reveal that the composite reinforced with nano-sized Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) demonstrated superior performance, manifesting a relative density of 55.61%, the lowest porosity at 5.47%, and the highest microhardness value of 55.7HV.These enhanced characteristics are corroborated by the results of the SEM-EDS microstructural observations.The employment of nano-Al2O3 in the Al-Cu-Mg composite alloy significantly optimizes its physical and mechanical attributes, rendering it an advantageous material for the fabrication of lighter and more robust components in transportation and automotive applications.The study's outcomes underscore the critical role of particle size in the reinforcement of aluminum matrix composites, highlighting the potential of nano-reinforcements in advancing material properties for industryspecific applications.

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