(ZrB 2 + Al 2O 3 + Al 3Zr) p/Al–4Cu composite synthesized by magneto-chemical melt reaction

Al–4Cu matrix composites reinforced by ZrB 2, Al 2O 3 and Al 3Zr particulates are synthesized using a magneto-chemical melt reaction. Using an electro-magnetic assisted melt reaction results in a uniform distribution of in situ particles with no indication of clustering and an equivalent diameter in the range of 80 nm–2 μm. Comparing to the Al–4Cu alloy, the mechanical properties, the wear weight loss and the wear resistance of the composites are significantly enhanced. In particular, the increases in σ uts and σ y for the as-prepared composites with a 15% particulate-volume-fraction (PVF) are up to 47.3% and 53.7%; the decrease in wear weight loss from 89.078 to 46.385 mg is obtained, and the wear weight resistance R relat. reaches 2.0573.