Scientists at National University of Science and Technology produce new aluminium alloy

Scientists at the National University of Science and Technology (MISIS) have reportedly discovered a simple and efficient way to strengthen aluminium-based composite materials. By doping aluminium melt with nickel and lanthanum, scientists have produced a new aluminium alloy that has benefits of both composite materials and standard alloys, including flexibility, strength, and lightness.

Torgom Akopyan, one of the authors and researchers at NUST MISIS Department of Metal Forming said, “Our research group, led by Professor Nikolai Belov, has worked on the creation of aluminium-based composites for many years. Al-Ni-La composite is one of such projects, aimed at creation of “natural” aluminium-based composite material with more than 15% vol. of doping elements. A feature of the new development is the high reinforcing ability of the chemical compounds with ultrafine structure: the diameter of the reinforcing elements does not exceed several tens of nanometers.”

The new development by NUST MISIS scientists solves the problem of non-uniform reinforcement and low density of “powder” composites. Thanks to “natural” crystallisation that helps the doping particles distribute uniformly and forms a reinforcing structure. The composite thus becomes stronger and more flexible than its powder analogs.

Torgom said, “Our composite already demonstrates better characteristics than its analogs, including foreign ones. However, we are not going to stop here, and in the future, we plan to continue working on the creation of more advanced, complex (3-, 4- and more-phase) and cheap composites, the production cycle of which will include the use of aluminum of technical purity and cheaper alloying components.”