Title: Investigation of novel parameters affecting distribution of reinforcement in nano metal matrix composites

Authors: Kalidindi Sita Rama Raju; Vegesna Ramachandra Raju; Penmetsa Rama Murthy Raju; Partha Ghosal

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, S.R.K.R. Engineering College, Chinna Amiram, Bhimavaram-534204, Andhra Pradesh, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, S.R.K.R. Engineering College, Chinna Amiram, Bhimavaram-534204, Andhra Pradesh, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, S.R.K.R. Engineering College, Chinna Amiram, Bhimavaram-534204, Andhra Pradesh, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, S.R.K.R. Engineering College, Chinna Amiram, Bhimavaram-534204, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract: Introduction of the nano reinforcement clusters in the metal melt degrades the strength of metal matrix composite (MMC) as they can form large clusters. In view of introducing cluster free nano reinforcement into metal melt, the effect of increasing launching particles and type of reinforcement are observed for distribution of reinforcement over each ball milling sample. Ball milling is performed at 300 rpm for 2 hours with 1:1, 3:1 and 5:1 weight percentage of launching particles to nano reinforcement respectively. In this investigation, aluminium is used as launching particle that is prepared to launch two types of reinforcements, simple and hybrid. The former consists of nano Al₂O₃ and later is a blend of nano Al₂O₃ with multi walled carbon nano tubes (MWCNT). Observations based on scanning electron micrographs (SEM) and transmission electron micrographs (TEM) reveal that, hybrid reinforcement ratio 3:1 could decrease the cluster size to 25 nm from 800 nm of simple reinforcement ratio 1:1. Hence the launching particle to hybrid reinforcement ratio 3:1 could produce good distribution when introduced to metal melt.

Keywords: metal matrix composites; MMC; nanocomposites; ball milling; nano reinforcement clusters; strength; hybrid reinforcement; reinforcement distribution; metal melt; nanomanufacturing; nanotechnology; aluminium oxide; multi walled CNTs; carbon nano tubes; MWCNTs; Al2O3; alumina.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2015.070527

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2015 Vol.11 No.1/2, pp.94 - 109

Received: 14 Mar 2014
Accepted: 19 Jan 2015
Published online: 09 Jul 2015 *

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