Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference

nsf-logo[1]

  • About
    • About AAAS
    • About the NSF
    • About the Conference
    • Partners/Supporters
    • Project Team
  • Conference
  • Abstracts
    • Abstract Submission Process
    • Presentation Schedules
    • Abstract Submission Guidelines
    • Presentation Guidelines
    • Undergraduate Abstract Locator (2020)
    • Graduate Abstract Locator (2020)
    • Faculty Abstract Locator (2020)
  • Travel Awards
  • Resources
    • App
    • Award Winners
    • Code of Conduct-AAAS Meetings
    • Code of Conduct-ERN Conference
    • Conference Agenda
    • Conference Materials
    • Conference Program Books
    • ERN Photo Galleries
    • Events | Opportunities
    • Exhibitor Info
    • HBCU-UP/CREST PI/PD Meeting
    • In the News
    • NSF Harassment Policy
    • Plenary Session Videos
    • Professional Development
    • Science Careers Handbook
    • Additional Resources
    • Archives
  • Engage
    • Webinars
    • Video Contest
    • Video Contest Winners
    • ERN 10-Year Anniversary Videos
    • Plenary Session Videos
  • Contact Us

Study of Thermo-Mechanical Properties of an Al-Zn Matrix Reinforced with Dodecaboride Particles

Undergraduate #369
Discipline: Technology and Engineering
Subcategory: Materials Science

Marivic Hernández - University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus
Co-Author(s): José Luis Colón, Sujeily Soto, and Oscar Marcelo Suárez, University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez



Aluminum-zinc alloys have been widely used in automotive and aerospace applications due their small weight-to-strength ratio. In particular, the study of the behavior at high temperatures of these composites has been mandatory. Previous studies have shown that adding hard boride particles to an aluminum matrix can enhance the resulting composite mechanical strength. This research, specifically, studied the effect of AlB12 particles in an Al-Zn matrix at high temperatures. These composites were characterized using thermo-mechanical analysis (TMA), Rockwell hardness and optical microscopy. The composite samples were homogeneized at 500ºC and then quenched in ice water. Subsequently the specimens were studied at 125ºC, 160ºC and 200ºC in the TMA to simulate an aging treatment. As expected, the resulting Rockwell hardness of the composite specimens increased for higher concentrations of AlB12 particles. However, such increment was not uniform for all samples at higher temperatures, which suggests an interaction between the dodecaboride particles and zinc. This was further corroborated by the TMA experiments, where samples with higher zinc levels containing AlB12 particles underwent higher deformations at higher temperatures. After the TMA experimentation, optical microscopy revealed the precipitation of zinc near or at the aluminum grain boundaries. This led us to discard the potential effect of fine precipitation due to aging in the composites.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): This study was based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. HRD 1345156 (CREST Phase II).

Faculty Advisor: Oscar Marcelo Suárez, msuarez@ece.uprm.edu

ERN Conference

The 2022 ERN Conference has been postponed.

Full Notice

What’s New

  • Congratulations to Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy on her 2021 AAAS Fellowship
  • Event Vaccination and Liability Policy
  • Webinars
  • Events|Opportunities
  • AAAS CEO Comments on Social Unrest, Racism, and Inequality
  • Maintaining Accessibility in Online Teaching During COVID-19
  • In the News
  • HBCU/CREST PI/PD Meeting

Conference Photos

ERN Conference Photo Galleries

Awards

ERN Conference Award Winners

Checking In

nsf-logo[1]

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

AAAS

1200 New York Ave, NW Washington,DC 20005
202-326-6400
Contact Us
About Us

The World's Largest General Scientific Society

Useful Links

  • Membership
  • Careers at AAAS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Focus Areas

  • Science Education
  • Science Diplomacy
  • Public Engagement
  • Careers in STEM

 

  • Shaping Science Policy
  • Advocacy for Evidence
  • R&D Budget Analysis
  • Human Rights, Ethics & Law
© 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science