Advancements in Aluminum Matrix Composites: A Comprehensive Review on the Mechanical and Microstructural Attributes of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Rare Earth Oxides (REOs) Doped Materials

Rare earth elements (REEs) and their oxides have become seed of the modern technology. Lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), scandium (Sc), yttrium (Y) and their oxides La₂O₃, CeO₂ and Y₂O₃ are utilized by researchers in order to enhance the microhardness, tensile strength, percentage elongation and wear resistance of the aluminum alloy composites and hybrid composites. Although aluminum boasts a lower weight-to-density ratio, high ductility, malleability and plasticity but the low strength, hardness and wear resistance limit its application. To address these shortcomings, various reinforcements have been employed. Among the available methods, powder metallurgy and stir casting are utilized by the researchers to process the aluminum metal matrix composites. The current study compiles the literature investigating the effect of rare earth elements and their oxides on mechanical properties and tribological behavior of aluminum alloys and hybrid composites. The addition of REEs and REOs to aluminum composites and hybrid composites resulted in properties suitable for applications in the aerospace, mobile phones, solar panels, fluorescent materials, marine and automobile components.