Characteristics of aluminum -nickel aluminate composite

A composite consisting of nickel aluminate ceramic - aluminum metal was fabricated by melting the metal in the ceramic skeleton. The porous nickel aluminate skeleton was fabricated by a polyurethane foam process with synthesized nickel aluminate powder. In the fabrication of the composite, powder-type aluminum alloys were melted in the porous nickel aluminate. The aluminum alloy containing Mg and Mn was used and melted in nitrogen atmosphere at 1000°C. The mechanical properties of the composites, which have a unique microstructure consisting of continuous phases of ceramic and metal, were examined according to the pore size of the nickel aluminate skeleton. A flexural strength of 370 MPa was obtained in the composite prepared from the nickel aluminate skeleton having a pore size of 300 μm, showing a non-brittle fracture behavior. A numerical study for the prediction of the mechanical failure behavior of the composite was also performed under the modification of finite - element code in DIANA.