Layers obtained on TiCN aluminum nanocomposites by electron-beam treatment

The impact of electron beam treatment on aluminum composites containing 0, 2, 5 and 10 wt. % TiCN nanoparticles was studied. Aluminum nanocomposites were produced as rods with 12 mm diameter by means of preliminary cold volume compression and succeeding hot pressing. Cylinders with a height of 10mm were cut from the rods and their flat surfaces treated by scanning electron beam techniques. The electron-beam treatment (EBT) process was carried out using Leybold Heraeus (EWS 300/15-60) electron beam equipment. Two technological regimes were used: with low energy power input Q1 and with high energy power input Q2. Composite layers with a strong bond to the substrate were obtained. Light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used for characterizing the microstructure. The phase composition of the obtained specimens was studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) using CuKa characteristic radiation (λ=1.54 Å). The microhardness was discussed with respect to the applied technological conditions of the EBT and corresponding microstructure and crystallographic structure of the formed layers. Nanocomposite layers with improved hardness were obtained which is necessary as exploitation surface properties of automobile and aircraft parts. It was found out that the microhardness of samples treated with high energy was much lower than the one of the samples treated with low energy. The strengthening mechanism in the samples was discussed.