Aluminium-based hybrid composites are a new class of advanced materials with the potential of satisfying the demands in engineering applications. This paper describes the effects of carbon addition on the formation and properties of AMC with SiC nanoparticles reinforcement. The composites were produced via mechanical alloying followed by hot pressing. Three forms of carbon, graphite (GR), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and, for the first time, glassy carbon (GC), were used for the hybrid composites manufacturing and compared with tribological properties of Al-SiC composite without carbon addition. GC and CNTs enhanced formation of Al-SiC composite particles and resulted in a homogeneous distribution of reinforcing particles. On the other hand, GR addition altered mechanochemical alloying and did not lead to a proper distribution of nanoparticulate SiC reinforcement. Hot pressing technique led to the reaction between Al and carbon as well as SiC particles and caused the formation of Al₄C₃ and γ-Al₂O₃. The subsistence of carbon particles in the composites altered the predominant wear mechanisms since the wear reduction and the stabilization of the friction coefficient were observed. GC with simultaneous γ-Al₂O₃ formation in the hybrid Al-SiC(n)-C composites turned out to be the most effective additive in terms of their tribological behaviour.

In this paper, the applicability of aluminium matrix composites to high-temperature working conditions (not exceeding the Al melting point) was evaluated. The behaviour of Al-Ti-C composites at elevated temperatures was described based on microstructural and phase composition observations for composites heated at temperatures of 540 and 600 °C over differing time intervals from 2 to 72 h. The materials investigated were aluminium matrix composites (AMC) reinforced with a spatial carbon (C) structure covered by a titanium (Ti) layer. This layer protected the carbon surface against contact with the aluminium during processing, protection which was maintained for the material’s lifetime and ensured the required phase compositions of Al₄C₃ phase limitation and AlTi₃ phase creation. It was also proved that heat treatment influenced not only phase compositions but also the microstructure of the material, and, as a consequence, the properties of the composite.

This paper presents a results of mechanical and tribological properties of aluminum based composites with skeleton reinforcement. The aluminum alloy based composites were produced using pressure infiltration process. As a reinforcement ceramic foam with opened cells was applied. This reinforcement structure give an opportunity to limit the most common defects (like agglomeration, inhomogeneity, ect.) occurring in composite materials obtained by casting. In presented research three different types of porous foam were analysed. There were alumina foam covered by thin glassy carbon layer (Al₂O₃ – GC) and two types of glassy carbon foams (GC). Due to application of porous ceramic foam, an increasing of composite mechanical properties are expected. An additional glassy carbon layer with thickness up to 5 μm was applied for increasing a thermal conductivity and rapid heat dissipation from the material. Moreover, the skeleton structure of glassy carbon, and its wear mechanism, should decrease a friction coefficient value. Two manufactured types of composites: Al₂O₃ – GC foam and own produced glassy carbon foam were compared with material reinforced by spatial carbon structure obtained from commercial RVC (produced by Reynolds) foam. The results showed that the application of porous ceramic and ceramic – carbon reinforcement skeletons led to increasing of mechanical properties of composite. The conducted research using pin–on–disc method, with 2,5 MPa of load and 1,0 m/s of speed revealed that glassy carbon have significant influence on decreasing friction coefficient and wear rate. An analysis of material external layer in areas after coupling with pin (wear track) indicated a fragmentation of glassy carbon foam. The wear products are not remove from friction surfaces, but these products create thin carbon film with lubricant properties. The conducted research showed both, a possibility to produce composites with skeleton structure of reinforcement and a possibility of correction of material tribological properties using glassy carbon.