Nanomaterials Applications in Modern Metallurgical Processes

Abstract

In recent years, improvement of metals mechanical properties becomes one of the main challenges in materials and particularly in metallurgical industry. Mostly, an alloying process is typically applied to reach metals enhanced performance. This work, however, describes a different methodology, where WC and TiC nanoparticles used as a modifiers and then gas-dynamic treatment (GDT) are applied. These processes were investigated on a hypoeutectic casting aluminum A356 alloy. Microstructural evaluation illustrated that a coarse Al grains were refined as well as eutectic Si particles were formed. Subsequent mechanical properties tests revealed that aluminum elongation enhanced while strength remained unchanged. Addition of WC and TiC enhanced the elongation by 20-60%, depends on the mold area. A combined treatment, using GDT with addition of TiCN nanoparticles showed even improvement in both, elongation and strength by 18 and 19%, respectively. Moreover, based on the electron microscopy studies, this behavior was attributed to a grain-size strengthening mechanism, where a high concentration of grain boundaries serves as dislocation movement blockers