Mechanical and Thermal Neutron Absorbing Properties of B4C/Aluminum Alloy Composites Fabricated by Stir Casting and Hot Rolling Process
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Experimental Procedure
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Microstructures of B4C/Al6061 Composites Fabricated by Stir Casting and Hot Rolling Process
3.2. Interfacial Analysis of B4C/Al6061 Composites
3.3. Mechanical Properties of B4C/Al6061 Composites
3.4. Neutron Shielding Properties of B4C/Al6061 Composites
4. Conclusions
- The measured volume fractions of B4C reinforcement were 4.82, 10.90, 20.02, 25.56, and 29.01% for 5, 10, 20, 25, and 30% B4C/Al6061 composites, respectively—values similar to the target volume ratios.
- Without AlB2 and Al3BC phases, a continuous Al4C3/(Ti,Cr)B2 layer was generated at the B4C/Al interface in the stir-cast B4C/Al6061 composites.
- The interfacial layer generated during stir casting maintained its own structure after the hot rolling process, indicating strong interfacial bonding strength.
- The tensile strengths of the B4C/Al6061 composites clearly increased to 20 vol.% and stayed above the value for Al6061, even reaching 30 vol.% due to partial lack of an interfacial layer at high vol.% B4C/Al6061 composites.
- The measured neutron shielding values of the composites increased with increasing B4C content. The 30 vol.% B4C/Al6061 composite had a 95.6% thermal neutron shielding ratio at 0.158-cm thickness with 19.7 cm−1 macroscopic cross-section.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
AMCs | Aluminum matrix composites |
NACs | Neutron absorber composites |
MMCs | Metal matrix composites |
Volume fraction | % |
Weight fraction | % |
Tensile strength | MPa |
Relative density | % |
Thickness | cm |
Thermal neutron shielding rate | % |
Macroscopic cross-section | cm−1 |
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Si | Fe | Cu | Mn | Mg | Cr | Zn | Ti | Al |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.529 | 0.549 | 0.172 | 0.086 | 0.954 | 0.142 | 0.0061 | 0.031 | 97.450 |
B4C vol.% | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Relative Density (%) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Stir Casting | Hot Rolled | Stir Casting | Hot Rolled | |
0 | 173.5 ± 0.7 | 188.9 ± 0.4 | - | - |
5 | 127.8 ± 7.5 | 249.4 ± 10.3 | 96.6 | 99.3 |
10 | 123.4 ± 3.7 | 272.5 ± 4.9 | 94.1 | 99.3 |
20 | 103.6 ± 2.3 | 289.2 ± 1.7 | 95.1 | 98.9 |
25 | 97.1 ± 6.0 | 241.9 ± 1.0 | 92.8 | 99.2 |
30 | 102.6 ± 13.9 | 224.5 ± 2.4 | 93.8 | 100.0 |
B4C vol.% | Thermal Neutron Shielding Rate (%) | Macroscopic Cross-Section (cm−1) | Thickness (cm) |
---|---|---|---|
5 | 50.9 | 4.50 | 0.158 |
10 | 75.4 | 8.25 | 0.170 |
20 | 90.6 | 13.91 | 0.170 |
25 | 94.8 | 18.70 | 0.158 |
30 | 95.6 | 19.70 | 0.158 |
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Lee, D.; Kim, J.; Park, B.; Jo, I.; Lee, S.-K.; Kim, Y.; Lee, S.-B.; Cho, S. Mechanical and Thermal Neutron Absorbing Properties of B4C/Aluminum Alloy Composites Fabricated by Stir Casting and Hot Rolling Process. Metals 2021, 11, 413. https://doi.org/10.3390/met11030413
Lee D, Kim J, Park B, Jo I, Lee S-K, Kim Y, Lee S-B, Cho S. Mechanical and Thermal Neutron Absorbing Properties of B4C/Aluminum Alloy Composites Fabricated by Stir Casting and Hot Rolling Process. Metals. 2021; 11(3):413. https://doi.org/10.3390/met11030413
Chicago/Turabian StyleLee, Donghyun, Junghwan Kim, Byeongjin Park, Ilguk Jo, Sang-Kwan Lee, Yangdo Kim, Sang-Bok Lee, and Seungchan Cho. 2021. "Mechanical and Thermal Neutron Absorbing Properties of B4C/Aluminum Alloy Composites Fabricated by Stir Casting and Hot Rolling Process" Metals 11, no. 3: 413. https://doi.org/10.3390/met11030413