On structure and mechanical properties of ultrasonically cast Al–2% Al2O3 nanocomposite

An investigation on the structure of an ultrasonically cast nanocomposite of Al with 2 wt.% nano-sized Al2O3 (average size ∼10 nm) dispersoids showed that the nanocomposite was consisting of nearly continuous nano-alumina dispersed zones (NDZs) in the vicinity of the grain boundaries encapsulating Al2O3 depleted zones (ADZs). The mechanical properties were investigated by nanoindentation and tensile tests. The nano-sized dispersoids caused a marginal increase in the elastic modulus, and a significant increase in the hardness (∼92%), and tensile strength (∼48%). Subsequent cold rolling to achieve a reduction ratio of 2 resulted in an appreciable increase in the hardness due to change in morphology of the microstructure. Estimation of the strength on the basis of inter-particle spacing, which was measured by transmission electron microscopy, could not be accounted for on the basis of Orowan mechanism, and therefore, strengthening mechanisms like local climb and/or cross slip might have a role in this room temperature (0.32TM) deformation process.