Large-Scale Atomistic Simulation of Sintering Process and Mechanical Properties of Al Matrix Composite with Different Reinforcements
Through molecular dynamics methods, composite models built with a large scale were employed to investigate the effects of different reinforcements, which were different from those used in most of the similar studies, where only a graphene nanosheet (GNS) or a rigid spherical particle was embedded in...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-11-01
|
| Series: | Metals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/14/11/1312 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846152934253920256 |
|---|---|
| author | Yongchao Zhu Can Sui Na Li Lijuan Sun Songtao Li |
| author_facet | Yongchao Zhu Can Sui Na Li Lijuan Sun Songtao Li |
| author_sort | Yongchao Zhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Through molecular dynamics methods, composite models built with a large scale were employed to investigate the effects of different reinforcements, which were different from those used in most of the similar studies, where only a graphene nanosheet (GNS) or a rigid spherical particle was embedded in a metal matrix. Here, 27 GNSs or diamond particles were placed in the empty spaces between Al particles with random directions. Then, Al matrix composites were prepared by modeling a sintering process. Structural analysis and tensile modeling were carried out on the sintered composites. The results indicate that the density of the Al–graphene composite was higher and increased with growth in the size of the reinforcements, although the Al–graphene system required more heating time to achieve densification. Bigger GNSs were likely to increase the pore volume of the composite. Meanwhile, larger GNSs were also more beneficial for grain refinement, leading to growth in the ratio of Al atoms at grain boundaries. The greater impact of GNSs on the inner structure was not just derived from their high specific surface area, and this impact was enlarged if drawn as a function of the weight fraction rather than the surface area. However, tensile processes revealed that two-dimensional (2D) materials seemed to have no clear impact on the direct strengthening effect, and anisotropy could not be observed in the large-scale models. The biggest GNSs even led to reductions in both the tensile strength and ductility of the Al–graphene composite, which coincided with some experimental reports. The evolution of the inner structures indicated that GNSs have the same role as diamond particles in dislocation accumulation and crack propagation. The major advantage of GNSs is their ability to improve the densification and grain refinement of the metal matrix composite (MMC). |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-751f0fa3539e4545905a7880dd7d18b5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-4701 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Metals |
| spelling | doaj-art-751f0fa3539e4545905a7880dd7d18b52024-11-26T18:13:41ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012024-11-011411131210.3390/met14111312Large-Scale Atomistic Simulation of Sintering Process and Mechanical Properties of Al Matrix Composite with Different ReinforcementsYongchao Zhu0Can Sui1Na Li2Lijuan Sun3Songtao Li4Department of Railway Engineering, Zhengzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College, Zhengzhou 451460, ChinaDepartment of Railway Engineering, Zhengzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College, Zhengzhou 451460, ChinaSchool of Mechanics and Engineering Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaDepartment of Railway Engineering, Zhengzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College, Zhengzhou 451460, ChinaDepartment of Railway Engineering, Zhengzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College, Zhengzhou 451460, ChinaThrough molecular dynamics methods, composite models built with a large scale were employed to investigate the effects of different reinforcements, which were different from those used in most of the similar studies, where only a graphene nanosheet (GNS) or a rigid spherical particle was embedded in a metal matrix. Here, 27 GNSs or diamond particles were placed in the empty spaces between Al particles with random directions. Then, Al matrix composites were prepared by modeling a sintering process. Structural analysis and tensile modeling were carried out on the sintered composites. The results indicate that the density of the Al–graphene composite was higher and increased with growth in the size of the reinforcements, although the Al–graphene system required more heating time to achieve densification. Bigger GNSs were likely to increase the pore volume of the composite. Meanwhile, larger GNSs were also more beneficial for grain refinement, leading to growth in the ratio of Al atoms at grain boundaries. The greater impact of GNSs on the inner structure was not just derived from their high specific surface area, and this impact was enlarged if drawn as a function of the weight fraction rather than the surface area. However, tensile processes revealed that two-dimensional (2D) materials seemed to have no clear impact on the direct strengthening effect, and anisotropy could not be observed in the large-scale models. The biggest GNSs even led to reductions in both the tensile strength and ductility of the Al–graphene composite, which coincided with some experimental reports. The evolution of the inner structures indicated that GNSs have the same role as diamond particles in dislocation accumulation and crack propagation. The major advantage of GNSs is their ability to improve the densification and grain refinement of the metal matrix composite (MMC).https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/14/11/1312molecular dynamicsgraphenediamondcompositemechanical property |
| spellingShingle | Yongchao Zhu Can Sui Na Li Lijuan Sun Songtao Li Large-Scale Atomistic Simulation of Sintering Process and Mechanical Properties of Al Matrix Composite with Different Reinforcements Metals molecular dynamics graphene diamond composite mechanical property |
| title | Large-Scale Atomistic Simulation of Sintering Process and Mechanical Properties of Al Matrix Composite with Different Reinforcements |
| title_full | Large-Scale Atomistic Simulation of Sintering Process and Mechanical Properties of Al Matrix Composite with Different Reinforcements |
| title_fullStr | Large-Scale Atomistic Simulation of Sintering Process and Mechanical Properties of Al Matrix Composite with Different Reinforcements |
| title_full_unstemmed | Large-Scale Atomistic Simulation of Sintering Process and Mechanical Properties of Al Matrix Composite with Different Reinforcements |
| title_short | Large-Scale Atomistic Simulation of Sintering Process and Mechanical Properties of Al Matrix Composite with Different Reinforcements |
| title_sort | large scale atomistic simulation of sintering process and mechanical properties of al matrix composite with different reinforcements |
| topic | molecular dynamics graphene diamond composite mechanical property |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/14/11/1312 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yongchaozhu largescaleatomisticsimulationofsinteringprocessandmechanicalpropertiesofalmatrixcompositewithdifferentreinforcements AT cansui largescaleatomisticsimulationofsinteringprocessandmechanicalpropertiesofalmatrixcompositewithdifferentreinforcements AT nali largescaleatomisticsimulationofsinteringprocessandmechanicalpropertiesofalmatrixcompositewithdifferentreinforcements AT lijuansun largescaleatomisticsimulationofsinteringprocessandmechanicalpropertiesofalmatrixcompositewithdifferentreinforcements AT songtaoli largescaleatomisticsimulationofsinteringprocessandmechanicalpropertiesofalmatrixcompositewithdifferentreinforcements |