FABRICATION OF CAST AA5056 ALLOY-BASED COMPOSITES REINFORCED WITH BN, ZrO2 AND Si3N4
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15407/plit2026.02.064Keywords:
AA5056 alloy, metal matrix composite, melt stiring, boron nitride, zirconia, silicon nitride, microstructure, mechanical properties, fluidity, porosityAbstract
Cast aluminum matrix composites (MMCs) produced by stir casting are of considerable interest due to their technological simplicity, relatively low cost, and the possibility of scalable manufacturing of components with balanced mechanical and casting properties. For Al—Mg alloys, particularly AA5056, the elevated magnesium content provides favorable conditions for improved wettability of dispersed particles and enables the implementation of dispersion and structural strengthening mechanisms. This study presents a comparative investigation of the influence of three types of reinforcing phases BN, ZrO2+BN, and Si3N4 on the formation of microstructure, porosity, fluidity, and mechanical properties of cast AA5056-based composites produced under identical stir-casting conditions. It is shown that the introduction of 2 wt.% dispersed particles into the melt leads to significantly different effects, governed both by the barrier action of particles on dendrite growth and by possible interfacial interactions. The most pronounced positive effect is observed for boron nitride: significant grain refinement, a more uniform distribution of alloying elements within the microvolume, and the formation of a more homogeneous structure are achieved. This is accompanied by a simultaneous increase in ultimate tensile strength and ductility, indicating an effective combination of strengthening mechanisms without brittle failure. The ZrO2+BN hybrid system exhibits less pronounced structural changes, with partial retention of dendritic morphology and particle agglomeration, which limits the efficiency of structural modification. At the same time, this composition demonstrates a compromise between strength, ductility, and fluidity, which is important for cast product manufacturing. The addition of Si3N4 results in increased strength due to grain refinement and possible local interfacial reactions; however, it is accompanied by a decrease in ductility due to stress concentration and the probable formation of brittle interaction products, such as interfacial nitride and silicide phases. As a result, the governing relationships between structure formation and property evolution in cast AA5056-based MMCs depending on the nature of the reinforcing phase have been established. They include grain-boundary strengthening and reduced microsegregation for BN, structural heterogeneity for the hybrid system, and possible interfacial reactions for Si3N4. The obtained results can be used for optimization of composition and processing parameters to achieve the required balance between mechanical and casting properties of the materials.
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