Bartosz Hekner

Effect of Carbon in Fabrication Al-SiC Nanocomposites for Tribological Application

Aluminium-based hybrid composites are a new class of advanced materials with the potential of satisfying the demands in engineering applications. This paper describes the effects of carbon addition on the formation and properties of AMC with SiC nanoparticles reinforcement. The composites were produced via mechanical alloying followed by hot pressing. Three forms of carbon, graphite (GR), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and, for the first time, glassy carbon (GC), were used for the hybrid composites manufacturing and compared with tribological properties of Al-SiC composite without carbon addition. GC and CNTs enhanced formation of Al-SiC composite particles and resulted in a homogeneous distribution of reinforcing particles. On the other hand, GR addition altered mechanochemical alloying and did not lead to a proper distribution of nanoparticulate SiC reinforcement. Hot pressing technique led to the reaction between Al and carbon as well as SiC particles and caused the formation of Al4C3 and γ-Al2O3. The subsistence of carbon particles in the composites altered the predominant wear mechanisms since the wear reduction and the stabilization of the friction coefficient were observed. GC with simultaneous γ-Al2O3 formation in the hybrid Al-SiC(n)-C composites turned out to be the most effective additive in terms of their tribological behaviour.

The Influence of High Energy Ball Milling on the Morphology of Metal-Ceramic Composite Powders

Investigations of high energy milling parameter of aluminum or siluminum based materials with ceramic particles has been conducted. Work consists of two parts. In the first part two types of composite powders with the same metal-ceramic ratio were synthesized via planetary ball milling with the same milling parameters. After SEM studies it has been shown, that despite of materials similarities significantly different milling times have been required for manufacturing fine grained powders. Planetary ball milling of the chosen aluminum matrix composite performed in two different milling cycles was the second part of the experiment. Two different times of the break between the consecutive millings were applied. It has been found that increase of the time of the break led to the finer powder after milling.

The Influence of Mass Fraction and Size of Glassy Carbon Particles on the Tribological Properties of Metal – Ceramic Composites

This paper presents the manufacturing process and the results of measurements for aluminum – aluminum oxide materials with addition of glassy carbon particles (GC). The composites were manufactured via high energy milling process with hot pressing subsequently. The influence of mass fraction (5, 10 and 15 wt.%) and a size of GC particles (<40, 40-80, 80-120, 120-160, 160-200µm) on the microstructure and properties were analysed. The complex meaning of GC particles for all, milling process, microstructure and final properties were discovered. After based description of materials, the tribological measurement were performed under two loads – 35 and 50N. It was noted, that mass fraction of GC particles have influence on tribological properties of materials. The composite with 5 wt.% revealed the best friction properties without any significant differences between analysed loads. The influence of particles size proved that the most effective fraction for tribological application is 120 – 160µm.

The Effect of Compression Aided by Additional Shear Stress on Microstructure of Composites Reinforced with Ceramic Particles

The paper presents a new method for processing of cast composites reinforced with ceramic particles in order to improve the microstructure homogeneity and material properties. The presented forming method consists in compression aided by additional shear stress that is caused by transverse motion of a punch. As a result, severe plastic deformation can be obtained in a workpiece. A series of experiments was conducted for previously cast Al-Mg-Cu matrix composites containing 15% reinforcement in a form of the mixture of SiC and glassy carbon particles. It was found that the applied method allows to refine the particles and to obtain a good-quality bonding on the particle-matrix interface.

Tribological Characteristics of the Magnesium Matrix-Glassy Carbon Particles Composite Manufactured by Different Casting Methods

A particulate composite with a magnesium matrix (Mg3Al) and glassy carbon particles (GCp) obtained under industrial conditions from a gravity cast and pressure die cast suspension was examined. The influence of the casting procedure on the microstructure and mechanical properties was revealed. Sliding friction tests by the pin-on-disc method for different loads (2.3, 5, and 9.3 N) and speeds (0.06, 0.09, and 0.14 m/s) were performed. Regardless of the technology, the sliding friction coefficient’s value strongly depended on the load and speed. Its value was changing (0.35–0.13) and was usually higher for the pressure die cast material, yet the wear resistance of the composite processed in that way was considerably better compared with the gravity cast. The results of the worn surface observation by SEM with EDS showed an influence of the initial Mg3Al-GCp composite’s microstructure on the processes of its wear.

The influence of glassy carbon on tribological properties in metal - ceramic composites with skeleton reinforcement

This paper presents a results of mechanical and tribological properties of aluminum based composites with skeleton reinforcement. The aluminum alloy based composites were produced using pressure infiltration process. As a reinforcement ceramic foam with opened cells was applied. This reinforcement structure give an opportunity to limit the most common defects (like agglomeration, inhomogeneity, ect.) occurring in composite materials obtained by casting. In presented research three different types of porous foam were analysed. There were alumina foam covered by thin glassy carbon layer (Al2O3 – GC) and two types of glassy carbon foams (GC). Due to application of porous ceramic foam, an increasing of composite mechanical properties are expected. An additional glassy carbon layer with thickness up to 5 μm was applied for increasing a thermal conductivity and rapid heat dissipation from the material. Moreover, the skeleton structure of glassy carbon, and its wear mechanism, should decrease a friction coeffici...