The scientific staff of the Department of Metallurgy, Powder Metallurgy, Nanomaterials has been working for several years on the creation of new ceramic-metal composite materials (cermets) with enhanced physical and mechanical properties. A new method for the synthesis of cermets, proposed by polytechnics and tested with the participation of materials scientists from US universities, is energy efficient and environmentally friendly, and is also of interest for the industrial process of manufacturing composites. The results of joint research by Russian and American scientists have been published in the international journal Advanced Engineering Materials, part of Scopus.
Engineer of the Department of Metallurgy, Powder Metallurgy, Nanomaterials Emil Umerov together with the head of the department By Alexander Amosov and Associate Professor Evgeny Latukhin developed and experimentally tested a new scheme for manufacturing composites of the MAX-metal family.
– MAX phase is a relatively new class of ceramic materials with some properties of metals, – says Umerov. – They consist of three chemical elements (titanium, silicon or aluminum and carbon), and their structure consists of alternating layers with a thickness of one atom. Such structural features endow the MAX phases with special properties: resistance to thermal and mechanical shocks, crack resistance, and electrical conductivity. But they are more fragile than metal. To increase the strength of the material, composites based on MAX phases are created. The methods of obtaining them are expensive, energy-intensive and time-consuming. We suggest using a simple and environmentally friendly method of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS).
The technology proposed by Emil Umerov combined the SHS method for obtaining a porous skeleton of the MAX phase with the process of spontaneous infiltration (impregnation) of a metal melt, which does not require the use of special equipment. Composite samples created in this way have increased physical and mechanical characteristics. Thus, experiments have confirmed that these composites have improved tribological properties and wear mechanisms.
– At the moment, we are continuing research on the application of the developed method for the production of specific products, – the scientist notes. – Our technique can become the basis for new energy-efficient technologies for the production of cermets, which will be used in the manufacture of electrical contacts, electrodes, tribotechnical parts, protective materials for nuclear energy, new generation bone implants and much more.
Emil Umerov's scientific achievements have been recognized at the national and international levels. So, in February of this year, the young scientist of the Polytechnic University became the winner of the XIV All–Russian competition "Engineer of the Year - 2023", and was also awarded Awards of the Chinese Ambassador.
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