Atomized picoscale composition aluminum alloy and method thereof

摘要

The invention is a process for manufacturing a nano aluminum/alumina metal matrix composite and composition produced therefrom. The process is characterized by providing an aluminum powder having a natural oxide formation layer and an aluminum oxide content between about 0.1 and about 4.5 wt. % and a specific surface area of from about 0.3 and about 5 m2/g, hot working the aluminum powder, and forming a superfine grained matrix aluminum alloy. Simultaneously there is formed in situ a substantially uniform distribution of nano particles of alumina. The alloy has a substantially linear property/temperature profile, such that physical properties such as strength are substantially maintained even at temperatures of 250° C. and above.

主权项

1. A process for making an aluminum nano-composite comprising:
a) providing an aluminum powder that has a particle size less than about 30 microns and a microstructure that has a first grain size, the aluminum powder further comprising a naturally forming surface layer of aluminum oxide and; b) hot working the aluminum powder at a temperature below the recrystallization temperature of the aluminum powder, thereby reducing the first grain size of the aluminum powder by a factor of at least 10 to form a second grain size; and c) simultaneously with step b), uniformly redistributing the aluminum oxide throughout the microstructure of the aluminum powder to form the aluminum nano-composite.