Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al356/SiCp Cast Composites Fabricated by a Novel Technique

Abstract

In this study, SiCp containing composite powders were used as the reinforcement carrier media for manufacturing cast Al356/5 vol.% SiCp composites. Untreated SiCp, milled particulate Al-SiCp composite powder, and milled particulate Al-SiCp-Mg composite powder were injected into Al356 melt. The resultant composite slurries were then cast from either a fully liquid state (stir casting) or semisolid state (compocasting). The results revealed that by injection of composite powders, the uniformity of the SiCp in the Al356 matrix was greatly improved, the particle-free zones in the matrix were disappeared, the SiC particles became smaller, the porosity was decreased, and the matrix microstructure became finer. Compocasting changed the matrix dendritic microstructure to a finer non-dendritic one and also slightly improved the distribution of the SiCp. Simultaneous utilization of Al-SiCp-Mg composite powder and compocasting method increased the macro- and micro-hardness, impact energy, bending strength, and bending strain of Al356/SiCp composite by 35, 63, 20, 20, and 40%, respectively, as compared with those of the composite fabricated by injection of untreated SiCp and stir casting process.