The Effect of ZrO2 Addition and Thermal Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites (AMMCs)

Isai Rosales-Cadena; Reyna Anahi Falcon-Castrejon; Rene Guardian-Tapia; Jose Luis Roman-Zubillaga; Sergio Ruben Gonzaga-Segura; Lazaro Abdiel Falcon-Franco; Victor Hugo Martinez-Landeros; Rumualdo Servin

doi:10.3390/ma18194507

The Effect of ZrO₂ Addition and Thermal Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites (AMMCs)

Materials (Basel). 2025 Sep 28;18(19):4507. doi: 10.3390/ma18194507.

Authors

Isai Rosales-Cadena¹, Reyna Anahi Falcon-Castrejon¹, Rene Guardian-Tapia¹, Jose Luis Roman-Zubillaga¹, Sergio Ruben Gonzaga-Segura², Lazaro Abdiel Falcon-Franco³, Victor Hugo Martinez-Landeros³, Rumualdo Servin⁴

Affiliations

¹ Center for Research in Engineering and Applied Sciences CIICAp, Autonomous University of Morelos State, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico.
² Institute of Physical Sciences, ICF-UNAM, Av Univ. 1001 Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico.
³ Faculty of Metallurgy, Autonomous University of Coahuila, Highway 57 km 5, Monclova 25710, Coahuila, Mexico.
⁴ Faculty of Mechanical Electric Engineering, Autonomous University of Coahuila, Barranquilla S/N, Monclova 25280, Coahuila, Mexico.

Abstract

Aluminum metal matrix composites (AMMCs) were obtained using the stir-casting method, adding 0.15, 0.25, and 0.50 in vol.% of ZrO₂. Microstructural observations made using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that oxide addition modified grain size. X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that mainly ZrAl₃ and Al₂O₃ phases had formed. Hardness evaluation indicated a maximum value of 63 HV for the zirconia-reinforced samples, representing an increase of approximately 70% compared with pure aluminum. This hardness increase was mainly attributed to the zirconia distribution in the aluminum matrix promoting lattice distortion, which promoted the inhibition of dislocation mobility. Wear tests indicated that the samples with 0.50 vol.% of ZrO₂ added presented the lowest wear rate because of the hardness they acquired. The results are discussed considering composite strengthening due to ZrO₂ addition and the thermal treatment applied (cooling rate).

Keywords: AMMCs; hardness; heat treatment; particle reinforcement; wear.