Reactively Synthesized Nanostructured PM Aluminium Composite - Microstructure Stability and Elevated Temperature Hardness Response

Reactive synthesis by mechanical alloying and subsequent hot consolidation is an appropriate way to produce an Al‐Al3Ti‐Al2O3 nanocomposite from readily available and inexpensive aluminium powder and nanosized TiO2. This processing route provides a fine grained and thermally stable microstructure with a controllable amount of dispersoids. The respective material shows a high hardness at room and elevated temperature and does not suffer from softening during long‐term annealing at 250°C. It is therefore considered to be a promising light‐weight material for elevated temperature applications.