Aluminum Carbide (Al4C3)

(Aluminum Carbide (Al4C3))

Aluminum carbide (al4c3) is an important compound for the development of aluminum-based composite materials. It is a diamond-hexahedral phase that has high hardness, shear strength, and melting point. It is also an ideal second-phase strengthening material for aluminum matrix composites.

al4c3 is a highly hygroscopic inorganic material with the chemical formula of al4c3. It appears as pale yellow to brown crystals that are stable up to 1400 degC. It decomposes in water and produces methane as a byproduct.

Typical applications of al4c3 are as an abrasive in high-speed cutting tools and as an amorphous powder for pyrotechnics. It has approximately the same hardness as topaz.

It is widely used in a variety of industries because of its light weight and good formability. However, it is faced with the problem of low strength, wear-resistance and poor high-temperature performance.

The synthesis of al4c3 can be achieved through several methods, such as metal direct carbonization and carbon thermal reduction. The advantages of these methods include low synthesis temperature, short reaction time, and uniform particle size.

However, these methods have their own disadvantages. For example, metal direct carbonization has a high synthesis temperature and long reaction time, while the high-energy ball grinding method has a large energy consumption and inefficient powder particle formation.

Therefore, the annealing process is an important step in obtaining al4c3 particles. The effect of annealing time on the microhardness value and Al grain size was studied. The results showed that the microhardness value of Al-4.5 wt.% C powder mixture increased after annealing for 1 h at 300 degC, 400 degC, 500 degC and 600 degC. Moreover, nanosized al4c3 particles formed during annealing. These particles acted as a driving force during subsequent annealing and enhanced the microhardness of Al-C powder particles.

(Aluminum Carbide (Al4C3))