MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND MICRO-STRUCTURAL STUDY OF SINTERED ALUMINIUM METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES BY P/M TECHNIQUE

Abstract

Material world requires a strong research to produce a new class of materials having light weight, higher strength and better performances. This has been leads to investigate for high strength light weight alloy. The main objective in developing aluminium metal matrix composites is to provide enhanced characteristic performances and properties above the currently available materials. Based upon the literature a new type of aluminium composite has been tries to develop which will offer attractive mechanical properties such as high strength, easy machinability, appreciable density, and low manufacturing cost etc. Aluminum powders of 99.55% purity and 325 mesh sizes are mixed with alloying metals like Copper, Magnesium, Silicon and Silicon Carbide powders in a precisely controlled quantity. During the process of powder metallurgy (P/M) product preparation, it was minutely observed to attain the maximum efficiency and accuracy. Aluminium (Al) is a light weight material but doesn’t possess a good strength. To achieve this, Copper (Cu), Silicon (Si), Magnesium (Mg) & Silicon Carbide (SiC) powders were blended with it at required proportions. The compaction was carried out with help of a C-45 steel die by power compaction press with a load of 150KN to 250KN. The obtained green products were sintered in a Muffle furnace to produce the final Aluminium Metal Matrix Composites (AMMCs) product.