Evaluation of Characteristics of Interfacial Phases Produced in Al/Ni<sub>3</sub>Al Composite during Manufacturing

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are currently being investigated because of their superior properties. The properties are mainly attributed to the efficiency of the load transfer from the matrix to the reinforcements through the matrix-reinforcement interface. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of manufacturing parameters on the microstructure and morphology of the interface and the aluminide phases formed at the matrix-reinforcement interfaces. The parameters are: milling time to fabricate Ni₃Al, method of mixing of Ni₃Al and Al powders, compaction pressure and sintering temperature. The composite studied in this research was Al/5 Vol% Ni₃Al made from two different types of Ni₃Al powders. The results showed that compacting and sintering at higher levels lead to the transformation of Ni₃Al particles to thin layers of Al₃Ni. It was also shown that the prolonged milling time to produceNi₃Alreinforcements and the prolonged ball milling procedure for mixing the powders, both, promote the diffusion process at reinforcement/matrix interface