Identify the effect of Fe2O3 nanoparticles on mechanical and microstructural characteristics of aluminum matrix composite produced by powder metallurgy technique

Abstract

Aluminum is a highly valuable structural metal utilized in various industrial sectors; particularly, it is utilized in considerable quantities in the nautical, aeronautical, and automotive industries. Aluminum is additionally utilized in small amounts in several other industrial sectors. The composite materials are now extensively utilized in various applications after their introduction. In this research, they prepared composite samples of aluminum with adding hematite nanoparticles with different ratio (2, 4, 6, and 8) wt% by powder metallurgy technology, and the sample preparation conditions was (mixing time reach to 2 h for every sample; the compaction loads is 6 tons and sintering temperature equal to 600°C). The tests conducted were XRD, SEM, EDS, green density, green porosity, microhardness, compression, and wear. The results illustrate that the hardness and wear values increase when increasing the hematite percentage.