Aluminum has long been used as conductor in high-voltage electric transmission due to its economic value and high conductivity. By adding nanosized ceramic particles such as Al2O3 and also alloying elements such as zirconium (Zr), cerium (Ce), and magnesium (Mg), the aluminum performance in strength could be improved without compromising much of its electrical conductivity. The purpose of this research is to investigate the mechanical, electrical, and physical properties of Al–0.12% Zr–0.015% Ce reinforced with different volume fraction (from 0.5 to 1.5%) Al2O3 nanoparticles with addition of 3 and 5 wt.% Mg produced by stir casting route. A master alloy, which consists of aluminum alloyed with Zr and Ce, was produced. The master alloy was then melted and Mg along with the reinforcement was blended inside the molten metal by stirrer with rotational speed of 500 rpm at 850°C in an inert gas environment. The molten composites were casted into plate and tensile test sample molds. The tensile strength of the nano composite was optimal at 1.0 and 1.2 vol.% Al2O3np with addition of 3 and 5 wt.% Mg, respectively. Higher Mg content produced nanocomposites with better strength and elongation. It was found that the conductivity of the nanocomposites is generally decreased with addition of reinforcement because of isolator particles and increasing of Mg content leads to further decrease in conductivity. It was found that the coefficient of thermal expansion could be decreased by adding more Al2O3np. However, adding more Mg generally increases the nanocomposite CTE value. The microstructure observations showed that the composites yield finer grains and more pores, than the unreinforced alloy.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
The Development Commissioner (SSI), Ministry of SSI, New Delhi. Aluminium Conductors AAC, AAAC, ACSR. (n.d.).
J. L. Ning and D. M. Jiang, “Influence of Zr addition on the microstructure evolution and thermal stability of Al–Mg–Mn alloy processed by ECAP at elevated temperature,” Mat. Sci. and Eng.: A, 552–557 (2001).
K. Sato, K. Yamauchi, Y. Hanaki, et al., High Conductive Heat-Resistant Aluminum Alloy, Patent No. 4402763 USA, Publ. September 6, 1983.
L. Pengfei, W. Zhigang, W. Yunli, et al., “Effect of cerium on mechanical performance and electrical conductivity of aluminium rod for electrical purpose,” J. Rare Earths, 24, 355–357 (2006).
S. A. Sajjadi, H. R. Ezatpour, and M. T. Parizi, “Comparison of microstructure and mechanical properties of A356 alloy/Al2O3 composites fabricated by stir and compo-casting processes,” Mater. Design, 34, 106–111 (2006).
R. Casati and M. Vedani, “Metal matrix composites reinforced by nano-particles-A review,” Metals, 4, 65–83 (2014).
L. Weber, J. Dorn, and A. Mortensen, “On the electrical conductivity of metal matrix composites containing high volume fractions of non-conducting inclusions,” Acta Mater., 51, 3199–3211 (2003).
K. Milos, I. Juric, and P. Skorput, “Aluminium-based composite materials in construction of transport peans,” Traf. Transp., 23, 87–96 (2011).
W. Zhong, G. L’Esperance, and M. Suery, “Effect of current Mg concentration on interfacial reactions during remelting of Al–Mg(5083)/Al2O3P composites,” Mater. Character., 49, 113–119 (2003).
J. Davis, Solidification Structures of Aluminum-Silicon Alloy Castings, in: Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys, ASM International, USA, (1993) p. 534.
H. Su, W. Gao, Z. Feng, et al., “Processing, microstructure and tensile properties of nanosized Al2O3 particle reinforced aluminum matrix composites,” Mats and Design, 36, 590–596 (2012).
M. Kirman, A. Zulfia, Sutopo, et al., “Investigation on mechanical properties of AlZrCe–Al2O3 nanocomposites fabricated by stir casting,” IOP Conf. Series: Mater. Sci. Eng., 58, 012009 (2014).
G. Lin, Z. Hong-wei, L. Hao-ze, et al., “Effects of Mg content on microstructure and mechanical properties of SiCp/Al–Mg composites fabricated by semi-solid stirring technique,” Trans. Nonfer. Met. Soc. China, 20, 1851–1855 (2010).
A. Mazahery, H. Abdizadeh, and H. Baharvandi, “Development of high performance A356/nano–Al2O3 composites,” Mat. Sci. Eng.: A, 518, 61–64 (2009).
Y. Yan and L. Geng, “Effect of particle size on the thermal expansion behavior of SiCp/Al Composites,” J Mater. Sci., 42, 6433–6438 (2007).
C. Park, C. Kim, M. Kim, et al., “The effect of particle size and volume fraction of the reinforced phases on the linear thermal expansion in the Al–Si–SiCP system,” Mats. Chem. Phys., 88, 46–52 (2004).
R. Maulana, Kirman, A. Sukarto, et al., “Effects of Al2O3 nanoparticles addition on hardness and thermal properties of Al–Zr–Ce/Al2O3 with 3 wt.% Mg nanocomposite produced by stir casting. Unpublished.
X. Zhou, A. Zou, X. Hua, et al., “Influence of Mg and Si in aluminum on the thermo-physical properties of pressureless infiltrated SiCP/Al composites,” Mats. Sci. Forum, 610–613, 546–553 (2009).
V. Rajkovic, D. Bozic, and M. Jovanovic, “Properties of copper matrix reinforced with nano- and microsized Al2O3 particles,” J. Alloys Comp., 459, 177–184 (2008).
Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank to Higher Education, Ministry of National Education, Republic of Indonesia for financial support under Hibah Desentralisasi PUPT, 2013 with contract No. 2385/H2.R12/ HKP.0500/2013.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Published in Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, Vol. 54, Nos. 9–10 (505), pp. 35–45, 2015.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zulfia, A., Maulana, R.P., Robby, F. et al. Effects of Al2O3np and Mg Addition on the Properties of the Al–Zr–Ce Nanocomposite Produced by STIR Casting, as Aluminium Conductor. Powder Metall Met Ceram 54, 534–542 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11106-016-9746-7
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11106-016-9746-7