Evaluation of Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of Al-SiC/Gr Particulate Produced by Stir Casting Technique

Abstract

Stir casting is an economical process for the production of aluminum matrix composites. There are many parameters in this process, which affect the final microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites. In this study, micron-sized SiC and Gr particles were used as reinforcement to fabricate Al-SiC/Gr composites at holding temperature of 700 ± 5 °C for 5 min at 350 rev/min stirring speed. The evaluation of the mechanical properties of the composites show improvement compared with pure aluminum-matrix. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) of the as-cast composites shows that the vortex formations within the melt eliminates the agglomeration of the particles and improve the wettability phenomenon.