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Investigating the Mechanical, Wear, and Thermal Attributes of Aluminum Zirconium Nanocomposite Synthesis through the Powder Metallurgy Process
Investigación de los atributos mecánicos, de desgaste y térmicos de la síntesis de nanocom-puestos de aluminio y circonio mediante el proceso de metalurgia en polvo
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15446/ing.investig.119286Keywords:
sintering process, zirconium dioxide, wear coefficient of friction, coefficient of linear thermal expansion (en)proceso de sinterización, dióxido de circonio, coeficiente de fricción por desgaste, coeficiente de expansión térmica lineal (es)
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This article reports the results of a study that examined the wear and thermal behavior of Al/ZrO2 nanocomposites fabricated using powder metallurgy with different ZrO₂ reinforcement contents (3, 6, and 9 wt.%). The findings show that microhardness increased to 33 HV in sample AZ0, 58 HV in AZ3, 74 HV in AZ6, and 87 HV in AZ9, indicating that higher ZrO2 content leads to enhanced surface resistance. The tensile strength of sample AZ0 was 285 MPa, with elongation values decreasing to 6%, which demonstrates a transition from more ductile performance to increased mechanical strength with the addition of reinforcement material. Compressive strength also exhibited a significant improvement, increasing from 43 MPa in AZO to 376 MPa in AZ9, indicating enhanced load-bearing capacity in the reinforced composite. The coefficient of friction decreased markedly from 1.6 to 0.4, reflecting improved wear resistance due to the homogeneous distribution of ZrO2 nanoparticles and the formation of a hard ceramic phase. Thermal conductivity also decreased from 237 Wm−1K−1 to 150 Wm−1K−1, which is attributed to the low thermal conductivity of ZrO2 and its homogeneous incorporation into the matrix. Similarly, the coefficient of linear thermal expansion decreased from 22x10-6/K to 11x10-6/K, owing to the thermal barrier effect and dimensional stability provided by the ceramic reinforcement. Overall, these results demonstrate that ZrO2 nanoparticles have the potential to enhance the mechanical strength, wear resistance, and thermal stability of aluminum nanocomposites.
Este artículo reporta los resultados de un estudio que examinó el desgaste y el comportamiento térmico de nanocompuestos de Al/ZrO2 fabricados mediante metalurgia de polvos con diferentes refuerzos de ZrO2 (3, 6 y 9 % en peso). Los resultados muestran que la microdureza aumentó a 33 HV en AZ0, a 58 HV en AZ3, a 74 HV en AZ6 y a 87 HV en AZ9, indicando que un mayor contenido de ZrO2 aumenta la resistencia de la superficie del material. La resistencia a la tracción de la muestra AZ0 fue de 285 MPa, y su elongación alcanzó hasta el 6 %, lo que evidencia una transición desde un comportamiento más dúctil hacia uno de mayor resistencia mecánica con la adición del refuerzo. La resistencia a la compresión también evidenció una mejora significativa, con un aumento a 43 MPa en AZ0 y a 376 MPa en AZ9, lo que indica una mayor capacidad de carga del compuesto reforzado. El coeficiente de fricción se redujo considerablemente (de 1.6 a 0.4), indicando un aumento de la resistencia al desgaste debido a la distribución homogénea de las nanopartículas de ZrO2 y la formación de una fase cerámica dura. La conductividad térmica se redujo de 237 Wm−1K−1 a 150 Wm−1K−1, lo cual se debe a la baja conductividad térmica del ZrO2 y su incorporación homogénea en la matriz. De manera similar, el coeficiente de expansión térmica lineal disminuyó de 22x10-6/K a 11x10-6/K, lo cual se explica por el efecto de barrera térmica y la estabilidad dimensional proporcionada por el refuerzo cerámico. En general, estos resultados demuestran que las nanopartículas de ZrO2 tienen el potencial de mejorar la resistencia mecánica, la resistencia al desgaste y la estabilidad térmica de los nanocompuestos de aluminio.
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