Influence Of Thermal Treatment And Reinforcement Content On Properties Of Aluminium Matrix Composites: A Case Study

Abstract

Discontinuous silicon carbide particle (SiCp) impregnated aluminium matrix composites were developed following stir casting method and subjected to thermal treatment under T6 condition. Optical micrographs of the composite samples revealed homogeneous dispersion of reinforcements with some local agglomerations. However, heat treatment reduced the particle agglomeration up to a considerable amount. Particle agglomeration increased on increasing the SiCp content and on reducing their particle size. Further, increase of the reinforcement content caused an increase in density and porosity of the composites. Rapid increase of porosity was observed with combined influence of particle size reduction and increase in particle content in the composites. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.