Barajas-Valdés, Ulises

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    Study of light weight, high strength, multifunctional composite material: Aluminum reinforced with AIB2 particles
    (2017) Barajas-Valdés, Ulises; Suárez, O. Marcelo; College of Engineering; Suárez Colche, Luis E.; López Rodríguez, Ricardo R.; Portela, Genock; Department of Civil Engineering; Rodríguez Solís, Rafael A.
    Aluminum, its alloys and composites are widely used in many modern life applications, such as microelectromechanical systems. In this research, an aluminum matrix composite reinforced with AlB2 particles was studied in bulk and in thin films. Bulk samples were manufactured by centrifugal casting the composite with different levels of boron forming AlB2 particles. The effect of embedded particles on the aluminum matrix was evaluated using Brinell hardness and nanoindentation. Brinell hardness increased from 250 MPa to 450 MPa as a result of particle content. The nanoindentation technique showed that the mechanical improvement is a result of the combined action between the two phases present. Thin films were made from pure aluminum and the Al-4wt. %B (Al-4B) composite using sputtering magnetron by radio frequency at different discharge power on glass substrates and silicon wafers (100). Nanoindentation revealed a higher modulus of elasticity, hardness and adhesion in the Al-4B films. The surface morphology of the films was studied using atomic force microscopy. The surface of the aluminum films presented a greater roughness and grain size with respect to the composite films. Additionally, in composite films the hillock formation was significantly reduced. The structural evaluation of the material via x-ray diffraction exposed in the aluminum samples a larger lattice strain. In addition, temperature effects were studied in samples deposited at 200 watts of sputtering power via hot stage tests using nanoindentation and x-ray diffraction. The materials exhibited softening by heating effect that expands the structure reducing mechanical properties. Additionally, the samples presented material annealing as result of the temperature cycle used in the tests. This was reflected in the mechanical behavior and the crystal structure.