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Microstructure Characteristics of A356 Nanocomposites Manufactured via Ultrasonic Cavitation Processing Under Controlled Solidification Conditions

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Book cover TMS 2017 146th Annual Meeting & Exhibition Supplemental Proceedings

Part of the book series: The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series ((MMMS))

Abstract

It has been recently demonstrated that microstructure as well as mechanical properties of metal-matrix-nano-composites can be highly improved by using ultrasonic cavitation. The main reason is ultrasonic cavitation processing can help to spread and break the clusters of nanoparticles in the melt during the fabrication process. The present investigation attempted to evaluate how different solidification conditions effect the microstructure of nanocomposites and how nanoparticles influence the evolution of microstructure during solidification. An A356 alloy and Al2O3 nanoparticles are used as the matrix and the reinforcements, respectively. Ultrasonic cavitation was applied during the induction melting to assist in the dispersion of the nanoparticles. Ultrasonic cavitation was also applied during solidification for different cooling conditions. Experimental results indicated that ultrasonic cavitation processing and Al2O3 nanoparticles play an important role for microstructure refinement. In addition, Al2O3 nanoparticles can refine the eutectic Si.

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Acknowledgements

Authors wish to express thanks to the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, The University of Alabama, Box 870202, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Yang Xuan & Laurentiu Nastac

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  1. Yang Xuan
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  2. Laurentiu Nastac
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Correspondence to Yang Xuan .

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  1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society TMS

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Xuan, Y., Nastac, L. (2017). Microstructure Characteristics of A356 Nanocomposites Manufactured via Ultrasonic Cavitation Processing Under Controlled Solidification Conditions. In: TMS, T. (eds) TMS 2017 146th Annual Meeting & Exhibition Supplemental Proceedings. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51493-2_28

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