TITLE:
Development of Aluminium Based Silicon Carbide Particulate Metal Matrix Composite
AUTHORS:
Manoj Singla, D. Deepak Dwivedi, Lakhvir Singh, Vikas Chawla
KEYWORDS:
Metal Matrix Composites MMC’s, Silicon Carbide SiC.
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.8 No.6,
June
20,
2009
ABSTRACT: Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) have evoked a keen interest in recent times for potential
applications in aerospace and automotive industries owing to their superior strength to weight
ratio and high temperature resistance. The widespread adoption of particulate metal matrix
composites for engineering applications has been hindered by the high cost of producing
components. Although several technical challenges exist with casting technology yet it can be
used to overcome this problem. Achieving a uniform distribution of reinforcement within the
matrix is one such challenge, which affects directly on the properties and quality of composite
material. In the present study a modest attempt has been made to develop aluminium based
silicon carbide particulate MMCs with an objective to develop a conventional low cost method of
producing MMCs and to obtain homogenous dispersion of ceramic material. To achieve these
objectives two step-mixing method of stir casting technique has been adopted and subsequent
property analysis has been made. Aluminium (98.41% C.P) and SiC (320-grit) has been chosen
as matrix and reinforcement material respectively. Experiments have been conducted by varying
weight fraction of SiC (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%), while keeping all other parameters
constant. The results indicated that the ‘developed method’ is quite successful to obtain uniform
dispersion of reinforcement in the matrix. An increasing trend of hardness and impact strength
with increase in weight percentage of SiC has been observed. The best results (maximum
hardness 45.5 BHN & maximum impact strength of 36 N-m.) have been obtained at 25% weight
fraction of SiC. The results were further justified by comparing with other investigators.