Research progress in mechanical properties of AlN reinforced aluminum matrix composites

The lightweight and high strength toughness of materials are of great significance for achieving energy-saving, environmental protection, and sustainable development strategies. Particle reinforced aluminum matrix composites, due to their combined performance advantages of reinforcing phase and matrix alloy, can achieve high modulus, high strength, and high heat resistance, and have become one of the focuses of high performance light alloy research and development.AlN reinforced aluminum matrix composites have high degree of microstructure design and can effectively improve the strength and toughness of the Al matrix, which has attracted extensive attention from scholars at home and abroad. The mechanical property progress of AlN reinforced aluminum matrix composites was focused in this paper. Firstly, the effects of preparation methods, interface structure regulation, hybrid strengthening and configuration design on the strength and toughness of AlN reinforced aluminum matrix composites were introduced. Influence of configuration design on the strength and toughening effect of AlN reinforced aluminum matrix composites was illustrated at room temperature and high temperature strengthening, respectively. Then, mechanism of the heterogeneous induced strengthening at room temperature and load transfer strengthening at high temperatures were emphasized. Finally, the new preparation technology, precise microstructure design and strengthening mechanism of heterogeneous configuration of AlN reinforced aluminum matrix composites were prospected.