Fabrication and properties of Al matrix composites strengthened by in situ alumina particulates

New aluminum matrix composites strengthened by Al2O3 particulates through stirring cast by adding NH4Al(SO4)2 to the molten aluminum have been fabricated. TEM observation shows that in-situ Al2O3 particulates are generally spherical and they are uniformly distributed in the Al matrix. Dry sliding wear test results show that the volume loss of the unreinforced Al matrix is about three times that of the Al2O3 reinforced metal matrix composite (MMC) and the volume loss of the MMC fabricated by adding Al2O3 is larger than that of the MMC by adding NH4Al(SO4)2. Lubricating sliding wear test results show that the volume loss of the MMCs increases more slowly than that of the matrix with the increasing of the load.