Advancing giga-strength and high-modulus aluminum matrix composites via nitrogen-induced self-forming process

作     者：Kanhu C. Nayak Se-Hoon Kim Jin-Won Lee Donghyun Bae Jae-Pyong Ahn Kon-Bae Lee Hyun-Joo Choi 

作者机构：Department of Materials Science and Engineering Kookmin University Seoul 02707 Republic of Korea Advanced Materials R&D Department Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH) Cheonan 31214 Republic of Korea Department of Materials Science and Engineering Yonsei University Seoul 03722 Republic of Korea Data Center Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea 

出 版 物：《Journal of Materials Research and Technology》 

年 卷 期：2025年第36卷

页      面：8876-8894页

基　　金：Korea (NRF) - Korean government [NRF-2021M3H4A1A04092462  NRF-RS-2023-00240406] 

主　　题：Al/SiC composite Nitrogen-induced self-sintering Interface Giga-strength Nanoindentation Strengthening mechanism 

摘      要：Giga-strength Al/SiC composites with exceptional strength (1 GPa) and stiffness (200 GPa), yet low density (3.0 g/cm 3 ), are produced through a simple yet transformative process that utilizes nitrogen s critical influence on the matrix-reinforcement interface, known as Nitrogen-Induced Self-Forming Aluminum Composites (NISFAC). The Al matrix, reinforced with 20–50 vol% microsized SiC particles, exhibited significant enhancements of mechanical properties, with a 471.93 % increase in compressive strength and a 189.33 % improvement in Young s modulus compared to monolithic aluminum. These improvements are attributed to the formation of aluminum nitride (AlN) and aluminum oxynitride (Al(O)N), which originate on the Al powder surface and integrate into the matrix and Al–SiC interface during the nitrogen-induced self-sintering process. Detailed microstructural analysis revealed the critical role of these phases in load transfer from the matrix to the reinforcement. Mechanistic insights and novel predictive models further validated the contributions of reinforcements to the yield strength and Young s modulus. The Al/50 %SiC composite achieved compressive strength over 1 GPa and Young s modulus over 200 GPa, highlighting its potential for advanced structural applications.