Pre-treatment process of B4C particles to improve incorporation into molten AA2014 alloy

The properties of particle-reinforced aluminum alloy composites depend on the microstructure and evolved uniformity distribution of particles in the matrix, wettability of particles by the melt and chemical reactions between particles and matrix. The wettability of B4C particles by the molten aluminum alloys is generally poor below 1100 C making their incorporation difficult. In this study, in order to improve incorporation of the B4C particles by AA2014 alloy melt a novel pre-treatment process was presented and B4C-2014 Al composites containing B4C particles up to 12 vol.% were manufactured by using stir casting. SEM observations have shown that uniformity distribution of B4C in the matrix was satisfactory and there was no reaction at the particle-matrix interface due to low processing temperature. However clustering of B4C particles was observed in relatively high particle-containing composites, which is commonly associated with the casting route.