Enhanced Compressive Strength of Nanostructured Aluminum Reinforced with SiC Nanoparticles and Investigation of Strengthening Mechanisms and Fracture Behavior

In this study, microstructure and mechanical properties of nanostructured Al and Al reinforced with different volume fractions of SiC nanoparticles fabricated through a powder metallurgy route, including high-energy mechanical milling and hot pressing method, were examined. Nanostructured Al and the Al-8 vol.%SiC nanocomposite showed superior compressive strength of ≈300 and ≈412 MPa, respectively, with reasonable ductility. The high strength of the nanocomposite was attributed to the reduced grain size of the Al matrix and homogeneous dispersion of the nanoparticles in the matrix. The effects of nanoparticles on strengthening of Al and fracture mechanisms are presented and discussed.