Fabrication of Nano-composite Al-B4C Foam via Powder Metallurgy-space Holder Technique

Nanocomposite Al-B4C foams were manufactured using five different volume percent of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 from B4C, through powder metallurgy-space holder method. Carbamidewas used as space-holder material in this study. Microstructure and compressive behaviour of nanocomposite Al-B4C foams were studied. The results show that the mechanical properties were affected by foam porosity size and reinforcing volume percent. The compressive strength increased by nano-B4C reinforcing volume up to 2 vol.%. It is also found that densification strain of composite Al-B4C foam decreases with increasing reinforcing volume percent. The maximum yield strength and energy absorption capacity of produced foams of this study were achieved via utilizing 2 vol.% nano-B4C, which were 23.9 MPa and 11.47 MJ/m3, respectively.