Additives for improving the castability of aluminum-boron carbide composite material

Abstract

The present disclosure provides additives capable of undergoing a peritectic reaction with boron in aluminum-boron carbide composite materials. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of vanadium, zirconium, niobium, strontium, chromium, molybdenum, hafnium, scandium, tantalum, tungsten and combination thereof, is used to maintain the fluidity of the molten composite material, prior to casting, to facilitate castability.

1 . A cast composite material comprising (i) aluminum, (ii) products of a peritectic reaction between an additive and boron, (iii) dispersed boron carbide particles and (iv) optionally titanium, wherein:
 the additive is selected from the group consisting of chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, niobium, zirconium, strontium, scandium and any combination thereof; and   a sample of the composite material has a fluidity, after having been heated, prior to casting, to a temperature of about 700° C. for about 120 minutes, corresponding to a cast length of at least 100 mm when measured using a mold having a groove for containing the sample, the groove having a width of about 33 mm, a height of between about 6.5 mm and about 4.0 mm and being downwardly inclined, from an horizontal axis, of about 10°.   
     
     
         2 . The cast composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the cast length is at least 190 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The cast composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the cast composite material is submitted to holding during a holding time and to casting during a casting time and wherein the combination of the holding time and the casting time is at least 120 minutes. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The cast composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the additive is scandium. 
     
     
         6 . The cast composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the additive is strontium. 
     
     
         7 . The cast composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the additive is zirconium. 
     
     
         8 . The cast composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration (v/v) of the dispersed boron carbide particles is between 4% and 40% with respect to the total volume of the cast composite material. 
     
     
         9 . The cast composite material of  claim 8 , wherein the concentration (w/w) of the additive is between 0.47% and 8.00% with respect to the total weight of the cast composite material. 
     
     
         10 . The cast composite material of  claim 9 , further comprising titanium at a concentration (w/w) between 0.50% and 4.00% with respect to the total weight of the cast composite material. 
     
     
         11 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of preparing a cast composite material, said method comprising:
 (a) combining (i) a molten aluminum alloy comprising an additive capable of undergoing a peritectic reaction with boron and optionally titanium with (ii) a source of boron carbide particles so as to provide a molten composite material comprising products of the peritectic reaction between the additive and boron and dispersed boron carbide particles, wherein:
 the additive is selected from the group consisting of chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, niobium, zirconium, strontium, scandium, and any combination thereof; and 
 a sample of the composite material has a fluidity, after having been heated, prior to casting, to a temperature of about 700° C. for about 120 minutes, corresponding to a cast length of at least 100 mm when measured using a mold having a groove for containing the sample, the groove having a width of about 33 mm, a height of between about 6.5 mm and about 4.0 mm and being downwardly inclined, from an horizontal axis, of about 10°; and 
   (b) casting the molten composite so as to form the cast composite material.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the cast length is at least 190 mm. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising, prior to step (b), holding the molten composite material during a holding time and casting the molten composite during a casting time, wherein the combination of the holding time and the casting time is at least 120 minutes. 
     
     
         24 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A cast composite material obtained by the method of  claim 21 . 
     
     
         43 - 46 . (canceled)