チタン酸カリウムウィスカーによる6061合金の強化

抄録

Feasibility of potassium titanate whisker as the reinforcement of 6061 aluminum alloy was examined. The volume fraction of whisker was 20% and the squeeze casting method was adopted. Tensile test, measurements of Young's modulus and thermal expansion coefficient were performed. Reaction at the whisker/matrix interface was observed by analytical and high resolution transmission electron microscopy.
The strength of the extruded composite reached 410 MPa, which is quite good. TEM obsevation revealed that no severe reaction occurred between the whisker and the matrix though magunesium segregated at the interface. Thus, the potassium titanate whisker is very much stable in the 6061 matrix and it has a good potential as the reinforcement of aliminum alloys because of its low cost.