Al- Mg- and Fe-based nanocomposites by rapid solidification processing

Nanocomposites are new generation composites with ultrafine grained matrix and nanodispersions of reinforcement material. A variety of matrix materials in terms of their chemical nature (such as Al and Mg based) and structure (crystalline, quasicrystalline and amorphous matrices) and different reinforcements such as oxides, crystalline and quasicrystalline intermetallics are being considered worldwide.The present paper deals with the development of Al-, Mg- and Fe based nanocomposites by the Rapid solidification processing route. Al-Fe-V, Al-Ti-Cr, Mg-Cu-Y and Fe-Cu-B-Zr system are chosen for the work. A number of compositions have been made using arc melting of pure metals. These alloys were rapidly solidified using melt spinning at different wheel velocities in the range of 10-50 m/s. In all the cases, a variety of nanocomposite microstructures have been obtained depending on the composition and cooling rate during melt spinning. The microstructure of the melt spun nanocomposites has been analyzed using XRD and TEM. The microhardness of the nanocomposite ribbons have been studied and correlated to the microstructure of the alloys.