A review of aluminum metal matrix composites: fabrication route, reinforcements, microstructural, mechanical, and corrosion properties

Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) developed with micro/nano-reinforcements emerge as an attractive candidate for innumerable applications, including automotive, aerospace, electronics, biomedical, and many more, owing to their high strength-to-weight ratio and outstanding tribological, mechanical, electrical, and thermal characteristics. This work aims to offer a review of the state of the art of research in the processing, fabrication, properties, and potential applications of AMCs. The review starts with an emphasis on light-weighted AMCs, followed by a brief discussion of the hybrid metal matrix composite structure and micro/nano-reinforcement. This review also includes an in-depth assessment of manufacturing processes and parametric factors that regulate the properties of AMCs. It also highlights the challenges that are currently encountered when processing AMCs, such as limited wettability, reinforcement agglomeration, and interfacial reactions, before analyzing the effect of adding micro/nano-reinforcements on the attributes of AMCs. In addition to the stated characteristics, the most feasible and novel applications of AMCs have been envisioned. Lastly, new research directions in the field of AMCs have been recommended and critically discussed.