Obtenção de compósito Al2O3 / W a partir da redução aluminotérmica do Al + APT, com ignição a plasma

Abstract

In this work composite alumina – tungsten (Al2O3 – W) was obtained from the aluminothermic reaction of ammonium paratungstate (APT) and aluminum powders, mixed and grounded in high-energy mill. So the powder obtained was inserted in a plasma torch feeder, driven by a flux of argon, and when interacted with the plasma, was abruptly heated to the aluminum ignition temperature, reacts exothermically. The product of this reaction was deposited on a brass substrate. The influence of variation ignition/powder feeding as well as the distance from torch until substrate were analysed. Alternatively a confinement device for the plasma jet was attached in order to adjust the substrate dimensions. Chemical composition, phases and phase distribution of these composite materials were characterized. The X – ray diffraction was used to analyze the existent phases; the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to perform the morphological aspect of the powder; and finally the Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) was used for analyzing the chemical composition. The composites obtained by using confined plasma flux showed greater percentage reduction from the amount of W mainly when the feed/injection flow of 5 l/min and 40 mm of distance away torch-substrate were set up.