The Effect of Different Fly Ash and Vanadium Carbide Contents on the Various Properties of Hypereutectic Al-si Alloys-Based Hybrid Nanocomposites

Recently, the attention of scientists has been devoted to improving the various properties of aluminum alloys such as strength, elastic modulus, and wear and corrosion. In this respect, the preparation of hybrid nanocomposites containing two ceramic reinforcements is a promising strategy for enhancing the aformentioned properties for use in various industrial applications. Therefore, powder metallurgy technique was used to manufacture hybrid nanocomposites from Al-Si matrix reinforced with different weight percentages of vanadium carbide (VC) and fly ash (FA) particles. Then, the prepared powders' microstructure and particle size distributions were examined by SEM technique and diffraction particle size analyzer. The prepared powders were sintered in an argon atmosphere and subsequently, their physical, elastic and mechanical properties, and wear and corrosion behavior were measured. The results showed that the addition of 10 wt.% VC and 10 wt.% FA nanoparticles resulted in a decrease in Al-Si alloy particle sizes up to 47.8 nm and improved microhardness yield, strength, and Young’s modulus to 161, 145 and 64%, respectively. Also, it remarkably decreased the rate of wear and corrosion to 40 and 67%, respectively.