The investigation of microstructure and mechanical properties of metallic glass/ceramic reinforced hybrid Al matrix composite used as foam precursor material

In this study, Al matrix hybrid composites reinforced with amorphous/ceramic particles have been produced via powder metallurgy process. Pure aluminum powder particles were blended with various volume fractions of TiH2 and amorphous Fe75Si15B5Zr5 particles. Blended powders were then consolidated through spark plasma sintering (SPS). The microstructure, phase evolution and mechanical properties of composites were examined. Microstructural investigations indicated that the reinforcing particles were segregated along the grain boundaries and mean grain sizes were decreased by increasing the amorphous particles content. Also, increasing the volume fraction of reinforcements had negligible effect on the porosity content of composites. Phase investigations revealed the presence of amorphous phase in the XRD patterns and absence of any undesirable matrix/reinforcement interfacial products. Compared to composite without amorphous reinforcements, the yield strength and hardness of composites contain 15 vol. % of amorphous particles and 1 vol. % of TiH2 particles were enhanced for 35% and 20%, respectively.