Impact of B4C reinforcement on the microstructure, wear, hardness, corrosion behavior, and radiation shielding properties of Al-40Sm2O3 hybrid composites
Seyit Çağlar
Abstract
This study investigates the production and properties of hybrid Al-based composites reinforced with Sm 2 O 3 and B 4 C. Al-40Sm 2 O 3 powders were milled using vibratory grinding, and B 4 C was added in varying ratios of 1, 5, 9, 13, and 15 wt%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the presence of Al, Sm 2 O 3 , and B 4 C phases and revealed significant changes in phase distribution with increasing B 4 C content. SEM-EDX analysis demonstrated consistency between the initial compositions and the resulting composite structure, with improved microstructural homogeneity as the B 4 C content increased. The inclusion of B 4 C significantly enhanced the wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and hardness of the composites. Although a slight reduction in relative density was observed due to the low density of B 4 C and interfacial bonding challenges associated with Al 6061 /B 4 C systems, the Sm 2 O 3 reinforcement effectively mitigated these issues by acting as a binding agent. Additionally, B 4 C reinforcement improved the composite's mechanical and physical properties. Radiation shielding analyses, conducted using MCNP6.2 simulation, revealed increased thermal neutron macroscopic cross-sections with higher B 4 C content, while gamma-ray attenuation properties decreased with reduced Al/Sm 2 O 3 ratios. These findings highlight that while B 4 C reinforcement enhances mechanical properties and thermal neutron shielding, its photon attenuation properties require optimization. This study provides critical insights for designing hybrid composites for advanced radiation shielding applications.