AN INFLUENCE OF MECHANICAL MIXING AND HOT-PRESSING ON PROPERTIES OF NiAl/Al2O3 COMPOSITE

Intermetallic phases of the Ni-Al type belong to the group of modern constructional materials which have numerous advantageous properties such as high melting temperature, low density, high resistance to high-temperature oxidation (to about 1200 degrees C), high mechanical strength, high fatigue strength, and high tensile and compressive strength (also at elevated temperatures). Intermetallic compounds have however also drawbacks in that they are quite brittle at room temperature which makes their mechanical processing very difficult and restricts their application range. These drawbacks can be obviated by modifying their chemical composition. Improving the properties of NiAl-based materials can be achieved by creating the composite with the matrix made of an intermetallic phase NiAl reinforced with ceramic (Al2O3) particles. This paper is concerned with the mechanical and physical properties (bending strength, fracture toughness, hardness, and Young modulus) and also the microstructure of NiAl/Al2O3 composite. The composite materials were produced by the hot-pressed method using the NiAl/20%Al2O3 (vol.%) powder mixtures. The composite thus produced had a high density of about 99% of the theoretical value and a high bending strength. The bending strength of the NiAl/20vol.%Al2O3 composite was higher by about 80% (635 MPa) than that of the pure NiAl phase (345 MPa). The experiments included also the examination of the effect of the rotational speed of the mill and the duration of the mixing process upon the size and distribution of grains, the microstructure, and phase composition of the composite powder mixtures obtained.