Structure and Properties of Electroless Cu and Ni-B Coated B₄C Particle Dispersed Aluminum Composites by Powder Metallurgy Technique

Abstract:

The widespread demand for light-weight materials in various emerging industrial sectors lead to the fabrication of aluminum- boron carbide composites. In this study, the B₄C particles were coated copper and Ni-B through electroless process using formaldehyde and sodium borohydride respectively as reducing agents under optimized condition. The microstructural and hardness behavior were investigated for powder metallurgy processed 20 vol. % of B₄C and coated B₄C particles in the aluminum matrix. Microscopic observation revealed that coating improved the dispersibility of B₄C particles in the matrix. The coated particles showed an increase in hardness and particle compaction with reduced porosity.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volumes 830-831)
• Pages: 480-484
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.830-831.480
• Online since: September 2015
• Authors: J.P. Deepa*, S. Abhilash, T.P.D. Rajan, C Pavithran, B.C. Pai
• Keywords: Boride, Dispersibility, Electroless Coating, Sintering

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