Investigation of PCA addition in the properties of AA2024 - B4C composites produced by powder metallurgy method

In this study, AA2024- B4C composites produced by powder metallurgy method. Mechanical alloying method was used to produce AA2024-B4C composite powders. The mechanical alloying process of AA2024 B4C composite powders was carried out in 3 groups using 4 different PCAs: Methanol, Ethanol, Stearic Acid, Zinc Stearate in a planetary type of ball mill. In the mechanical alloying method used to produce AA2024-B4C composite powders, Group 1 composite powders were determined as AA2024 1% B4C and PCA additive was added at the beginning of milling at the rate of 2 wt. %, 2nd Group composite powders were determined as AA2024-1% B4C, PCA additive was added at the rate of 2wt.% at the beginning of milling and 0.5 wt.% was added at the 2nd, 4th and 10th hours of milling, giving a total of 3.5 wt.% PCA and Group 3 composite powders were determined to contain different amounts of reinforcement by wt.%(1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40) and PCA additive was added at the beginning of the milling at the amount of 2 wt. % and at the 2nd, 4th, 10th and 14th hours of the milling at the amount of 0.5%, for a total of 4% PCA additive. Morphological examinations, particle size distributions, SEM-EDS-XRD analysis, powder hardness, apparent density examinations of the powder samples were carried out. As a result of the investigations, it was revealed that the best parameter was with the addition of Methanol at 18 hours of milling.