Metal Matrix Composites Reinforced With Nanoparticles for the Needs of Space Exploration

Aluminum (Al) matrix composite materials reinforced with small amounts (0,01 ? 0,15 % vol.) of aluminum or zirconium oxides nanoparticles were fabricated by tradition powder metallurgy (PM) techniques with cold pressing and vacuum sintering. Nanoparticles and their clusters were located on grain boundaries of a matrix. The microhardness of the produced composites was dramatically increased than bulk pure Al, by increasing the amount of nanoparticles. The tensile strength of the produced composites was dramatically increased (more than 2 times) than bulk pure Al, by increasing the amount of nanoparticles. This powder metallurgical approach could also be applied to other nanoreinforced composites, such as ceramics or complex matrix materials.