Structure and Properties of Electroless Cu and Ni-B Coated B4C Particle Dispersed Aluminum Composites by Powder Metallurgy Technique

The widespread demand for light-weight materials in various emerging industrial sectors lead to the fabrication of aluminum- boron carbide composites. In this study, the B4C particles were coated copper and Ni-B through electroless process using formaldehyde and sodium borohydride respectively as reducing agents under optimized condition. The microstructural and hardness behavior were investigated for powder metallurgy processed 20 vol. % of B4C and coated B4C particles in the aluminum matrix. Microscopic observation revealed that coating improved the dispersibility of B4C particles in the matrix. The coated particles showed an increase in hardness and particle compaction with reduced porosity.