Lightweight aluminum matrix composites with superior strength and structural integrity are in high demand for next-generation transportation and aerospace applications. In this work, Al6060-based composites reinforced with ≈2 wt.% TiB₂ were produced using a hybrid processing route that combines ultrasonically assisted stir casting with radial-shear rolling (RSR). This strategy enabled uniform particle dispersion, strong matrix–reinforcement bonding, and substantial microstructural refinement (grain size 4–6 μm) with reduced porosity. Consequently, the Al6060/TiB₂ composites demonstrated substantial gains over the as-cast alloy, combining a yield strength of 108.6 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 156.9 MPa, and microhardness of 76.3 HV0.2 with a balanced ductility of ~9%. The demonstrated synergy of ultrasound-assisted casting and severe plastic deformation highlights a scalable pathway for fabricating high-performance aluminum composites, positioning them as promising candidates for aerospace, automotive, and other advanced engineering sectors.

Pure aluminum, due to its inherent low strength and softness, is unsuitable for most structural applications. However, unlike many aluminum alloys, pure aluminum exhibits high ductility and is often free from expensive alloying elements. This makes it a promising candidate for minor reinforcement to produce cost-effective composites with an optimal balance of strength and ductility. This study assesses the possibility of improving the mechanical performance of pure aluminum specimens by minor reinforcement (~0.36 wt. %) with fine B₄C particles and T6 heat treatment. The composites were obtained using ultrasonic-assisted stir casting and were characterized by assessing their density, microhardness, yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and elongation. Light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests were conducted to investigate the presence and distribution of reinforcing particles in the Al matrix. Minor reinforcement of ~0.5–2 μm with B₄C particles without/with subsequent T6 heat treatment resulted in an increase in microhardness by 71.45% and 143.37% and UTS by 71.05% and 140.16%, respectively, while the elongation values of the specimens decreased to 51.98% and 42.38%, respectively, compared with the adopted initial matrix Al specimen.

This study examines the use of ultrafine (~128 nm) microsilica (composed of a mixture of amorphous and microcrystalline silicon dioxide phases) particles, an industrial waste product, as a reinforcing material to create aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) via ultrasonic-assisted stir casting followed by T6 heat treatment. This study aimed to improve the mechanical properties of pure aluminum, which has insufficient strength for most engineering applications. The main objective of this study is to develop environmentally and economically efficient AMCs with improved properties, namely, the balance between strength and ductility, for further application in caliber rolling processes. Attention is also paid to minor reinforcements using a low concentration of microsilica (~0.36%wt), which minimizes the problems with the wettability of the reinforcing material particles. The composites reinforced with ultrafine microsilica exhibited enhanced mechanical performance, including a 59.7% increase in Vickers microhardness and a significant improvement in tensile strength, reaching 73 MPa. Additionally, T6 heat treatment synergistically improved ductility to 60.3% elongation while maintaining high strength, achieving a balanced performance suitable for forming processes. The study results confirm that using microsilica as a reinforcing material is an effective way to improve the performance of aluminum alloys, while minimizing costs and solving environmental problems.

This work presents a comprehensive study on the fabrication, microstructural evolution, and mechanical performance of hybrid aluminum matrix composites based on Al6060 alloy reinforced with ~2 wt.% TiB₂ and ~1 wt.% multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The composites were produced via ultrasonically assisted stir casting followed by radial-shear rolling (RSR). The combined processing route enabled a uniform distribution of reinforcing phases and significant grain refinement in the aluminum matrix. SEM, EDS, XRD, and EBSD analyses revealed that TiB₂ particles acted as nucleation centers and grain boundary pinning agents, while MWCNTs provided a network structure that suppressed agglomeration of ceramic particles and enhanced interfacial load transfer. As a result, hybrid composites demonstrated a submicron-grained structure with reduced anisotropy. Mechanical testing confirmed that yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) increased by 67% and 38%, respectively, in the cast state compared to unreinforced Al6060, while after RSR processing, YS exceeded 115 MPa and UTS reached 164 MPa, with elongation preserved at 14%. Microhardness increased from 50.2 HV0.2 (base alloy) to 82.2 HV0.2 (hybrid composite after RSR). The combination of ultrasonic melt treatment and RSR thus provided a synergistic effect, enabling simultaneous strengthening and ductility retention. These findings highlight the potential of hybrid Al6060/TiB₂–MWCNT composites for structural applications requiring a balance of strength, ductility, and wear resistance.

We report a scalable route to hybrid aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) based on Al6060 (as-fabricated condition) reinforced with 2 wt.% TiB₂ and 1 wt.% microsilica, fabricated by ultrasonically assisted stir casting (UASC) followed by radial-shear rolling (RSR). Premixing and preheating of powders combined with acoustic cavitation/streaming during UASC ensured uniform, non-sedimentary particle dispersion and low-defect cast billets. X-ray diffraction of the as-cast composite shows fcc-Al with weak TiB₂ reflections and no reaction products; microsilica remains amorphous. Electron microscopy and EBSD after RSR reveal full erasure of cast dendrites, fine equiaxed grains, weakened texture, and a high fraction of high-angle boundaries due to the concurrent action of particle-stimulated nucleation (micron-scale TiB₂) and Zener pinning/Orowan strengthening (50–350 nm microsilica). Mechanical testing shows that, in the cast state—comparing cast monolithic Al6060 to the cast hybrid-reinforced composite—yield strength (YS) increases from 61.7 to 77.2 MPa and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) from 103.4 to 130.7 MPa, without loss of ductility. After RSR to Ø16 mm (cumulated true strain ≈ 0.893), the hybrid attains YS 101.2 MPa, UTS 150.6 MPa, and elongation ≈ 22.0%, i.e., comparable strength to rolled Al6060 (UTS 145.1 MPa) while restoring/raising ductility by ~9.7 percentage points. Microhardness follows the same trend, increasing from 50.2 HV0.2 to 73.1 HV0.2 when comparing the base cast condition with the rolled hybrid. The route from UASC to RSR thus achieves a favorable mechanical strength–ductility balance using an economical, eco-friendly oxide/boride hybrid reinforcement, making it attractive for formable AMC bar and rod products.

The presented literature review contains the results of the analysis of scientific articles for 2000-2026 years, considering the use of blast furnace slag in various areas of road construction. It has been established that there are clear differences between the application options for different types of blast furnace slag. Air-cooled blast furnace slag (ACBFS) is more often used as a coarse or fine aggregate for cement concrete and asphalt concrete, and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) is used as an additional binder or as a mineral/reactive filler. When using blast furnace slag in the production of concrete, the highest results in a number of studies were achieved when replacing 20-40% of the aggregate with slag, although this indicator was not a universal optimal value. In some articles, it was pointed out that the use of blast furnace slag as part of the base of a highway or for soil stabilization was associated with an increase in CBR. Some authors point to a reduction in the consumption of Portland cement when using complex binders containing granular blast furnace slag. Data on the improvement of water resistance, fatigue resistance, Marshall stability, and rutting resistance of asphalt concrete with the introduction of ACBFS and GGBFS in various proportions are also presented. Pretreatment of porous ACBFS was also important: selective crushing and related separation methods reduced water absorption, crushing value, and the proportion of weak porous particles. The main practical conclusion is that BFS should not be treated as a single interchangeable material. Its use should be selected according to slag type, particle quality, the component being replaced, and the required pavement property. Further studies should examine whether improvements achieved by slag pretreatment at the aggregate level are retained in concrete, asphalt mixtures, and pavement-base materials under long-term service conditions.