Synthesis and Characterization of Aa2024-Sio2 Nanocomposites Through the Vortex Method

In the present study, AA2024-SiO 2np nanocomposites were prepared by the vortex method and effects of SiO 2 content on resulting microstructural and mechanical properties were investigated. The results indicate that the addition of 0.5vol% of nanoparticles decreased the size of the dendrite cell intervals by about 16%. The observed mechanical properties exhibited an improvement of about 17, 28, 10, 157, 8 and 13%, in hardness, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, tensile elongation, flexural and shear strengths, respectively. With more considerable additions of nanoparticles, scanning electron microscopy investigations confirm that there were more significant amounts of nanoparticle agglomerates in the microstructure, which reduced the mechanical properties of 1vol% SiO 2np reinforced nanocomposite. The primary strengthening mechanisms evaluated appeared to be the effect of grain refinement (Hall–Petch), Orowan strengthening and the mismatch in coefficient of thermal expansion of the reinforcements and the matrix alloy. Evidence of some agglomerations of nanoparticles was recognized on the tensile fractured surfaces of the nanocomposites.