Optimizing the Parameters of Reactive Sintering for <i>In Situ</i> Fabrication of Al-Al₂O₃ Composites

Abstract

Fabrication of aluminum-based composites reinforced by ceramic particles or intermetallic phases has focused considerable attention in recent decades because significant improvement in mechanical properties and thermal stability. This paper has considered in-situ fabrication by mean of reactive sintering of blended and compacted powders containing an aluminum-copper hardenable alloy and titanium dioxide. An experimental program has been dedicated to optimize the sintering parameters in terms of both treatments temperature, between 650 and 800°C, and duration, in the range of 3 to 6 hours. Microstructural analysis based on Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) has been used to determine of distribution of elements involved in sintering reactions, such as aluminum, titanium and oxygen.