INVESTIGATION ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND MICROSTRUCTURE OF BORON NITRIDE NANOPARTICLE REINFORCED ALUMINUM-BASED COMPOSITES

In the current work, nano boron nitride (BN) reinforced aluminum (Al) matrix composites with different BN amounts (0.5-2wt.%) were produced by the powder metallurgy(PM) route. This fabrication method consists of dispersing, filtering, mixing, drying, compaction, and sintering processes. The density, compressive strength, micro Vickers hardness, microstructure, and phase structures of Al-BN composites and pure Al were examined. The obtained results indicated that minimum porosity (3.2%), highest density (~2.61g/cm3), Vickers hardness (~50HV), and compressive strength (~168MPa) were obtained at 1%BN reinforced aluminum matrix composite. A tremendous enhancement in Vickers hardness and compressive strength of %1BN reinforced Al matrix composite was achieved as ~61% and ~110% compared to pure Al. Consequently, the mechanical strength of BN reinforced Al-based composites enhanced up to 1% nano boron nitride amount. Due to the clumping of BN nanoparticles, the mechanical strength decreased after this content.