Optimizing Ultrasonic Power on Fabricating Aluminum Nanocomposites Reinforced with Boron Carbide Nanoparticles

Abstract. In this work, sonication assisted casting technique was utilized to manufacture aluminum
nanocomposites reinforced with B4C nanoparticles with an average size of 50 nm. To examine the
effect of sonication power on manufacturing the metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs), the
MMNC samples were sonicated with a power of 1.0 kW, 1.5 kW and 2.0 kW. The dispersion of
B4C nanoparticles in Al matrix was predominantly affected by sonication power. From themicrostructural analysis it was observed that the MMNC sample processed with 2.0 kW sonicationpower showed the uniform distribution of B4C in the aluminum alloy melt which is the prime
criteria for the good mechanical properties.