Mechanical properties and wear behaviour of PM aluminium composite reinforced with (Fe 3 Al) particles

Mechanical properties and wear behaviour of an aluminium matrix composite reinforced with Fe₃Al intermetallics have been studied. A 2014 alloy manufactured through mechanical alloying was used as the matrix. Three different Fe₃Al intermetallics have been used as reinforcement, also manufactured through mechanical alloying. The difference between them was the different mechanical alloying times (5 and 20 h were used) and the possibility of carrying out a heat treatment at 1000°C (on the 20 h milled intermetallic) before admixing to the aluminium matrix. The processing of these composite materials included mixing and cold compacting (conventional powder metallurgy) followed by hot extrusion (without caning and degassing). The effect of a T6 heat treatment was also evaluated. The influence of intermetallic additions on the mechanical properties (hardness and tensile strength) and wear behaviour (pin on disk test) was established. All intermetallics showed a good link with the matrix, and high reactivity with it during the heat treatment, as the microstructural study supports.