Characterization of Hybrid Silicon Carbide and Boron Carbide Nanoparticles-Reinforced Aluminum Alloy Composites

Hybrid nanocomposites based on aluminum alloy 6061 reinforced with different hybrid ratios of SiC (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 vol. %) and B4C (fixed 0.5 vol. %) nanoparticles were successfully fabricated using ultrasonic cavitation based solidification process. The fabricated cast specimens were characterized using SEM study with EDS analysis, hardness test, tension test and impact test. The results indicate that, by the ultrasonic cavitation effects namely transient cavitation and acoustic streaming, the nano reinforcements were successfully incorporated in the aluminum matrix. SEM study with EDS validates the presence of SiC and B4C nanoparticles in the aluminum matrix. Compared to the un-reinforced alloy, the room temperature hardness and tensile strength of the hybrid composites increased quite significantly while the ductility and impact strength reduced marginally. The combination of 1.0 volume percentage SiC and 0.5 volume percentage B4C gives the superior tensile strength. The major reason for an increase in the room-temperature mechanical properties of the hybrid composites should be attributed to the larger hybrid ratio of SiC and B4C nanoparticles, the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between matrix and hybrid reinforcements and the dispersive strengthening effects.