Fabrication, mechanical and thermal behaviors of antiperovskite manganese nitride Mn3.1Zn0.5Sn0.4N reinforced aluminum matrix composites

• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2021.109080
• Publication Date: 2021-06-15T22:47:52Z
• Authors: He Cao; Yishi Su; Di Zhang; Qiubao Ouyang
• Keywords: Antiperovskite; Hot pressing

Abstract Lightweight aluminum matrix composites with excellent mechanical and thermal properties are urgently required in applications of aerospace, electronics and military industries owning dimensional stability and long-life span. Antiperovskite manganese nitrides can be regarded as ideal reinforcements due to their high mechanical properties, low negative thermal expansion and wide temperature ranges. In this paper, 30 vol % Mn3.1Zn0.5Sn0.4N/Al composites with Mn3.1Zn0.5Sn0.4N particle sizes of 130, 63 and 12 μm were fabricated by vacuum hot-pressing sintering under sintering temperatures of 450, 500 and 550 °C, respectively. Material phase analysis, microstructural characterization, and bulk density measurements of Mn3.1Zn0.5Sn0.4N/Al composites are conducted. Three-point bending and nano-indentation mechanical properties of Mn3.1Zn0.5Sn0.4N/Al composites are studied, while thermal expansion and conductivity of Mn3.1Zn0.5Sn0.4N/Al composites are also investigated. For the Mn3.1Zn0.5Sn0.4N/Al composite sintered at 450 °C with particle size of 130 μm, the Young's modulus of 87.35 GPa, flexural strength of 169.3 ± 7.60 MPa and flexural strain of 3.62 ± 0.09% are produced. Meanwhile, the lowest coefficient of thermal expansion of 3.14 ppm °C−1 and largest thermal conductivity of 126.2 ± 7.0 W m−1 K−1 are possessed as well. Semi-coherent and coherent interfaces of Al–Mn and Sn–Mn3.1Zn0.5Sn0.4N with a width of ~100 nm are determined, which clearly indicates the interfacial characteristics within the Mn3.1Zn0.5Sn0.4N/Al interfacial micro-zones. This work can provide a good understanding and guide for designing and preparing novel structural-functional composite materials with excellent mechanical and thermal properties.