In-situ molten salt reaction and incorporation of small (10 nm) TiC nanoparticles into Al

Metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) with nanoparticles in a metal matrix are important for widespread applications. Smaller nanoparticles are preferred for a better strengthening effect. However, it is extremely difficult to control the size of nanoparticles in MMNCs through a solidification process. In this study, a novel in-situ molten salt reaction and incorporation method is presented for the fabrication of Al-TiC nanocomposites. The size of the TiC nanoparticles is readily controlled to approximately 11 nm. The mechanical properties are enhanced by the incorporation of TiC nanoparticles. This novel method could potentially be applied to different material systems for high-performance MMNCs.