Synthesis of Al- Sic Composite Prepared By Mechanical Alloying

Abstract

Aluminium matrix composites (AMCs) refer to the class of light weighthigh performance aluminium centric material systems. Properties of AMCs can bepersonalized to the demands of special industrial applications by appropriate combinationsof matrix, reinforcement and processing technique. The widespread acceptance of particulate metal matrixcomposites for engineering applications has been hindered by the high cost of producingcomponents. Although several technical challenges exist with casting technology yet it can beused to overcome this problem. Achieving a uniform distribution of reinforcement within thematrix is one such challenge, which affects directly on the properties and quality of compositematerial. In the present reading a modest effort has been made to develop aluminium basedsilicon carbide particulate MMCs with an objective to develop a conventional low cost technique ofproducing MMCs and to obtain homogenous dispersion of ceramic material. To achieve theseobjectives Mechanical alloying method of powder metallurgy has been adopted and consequentproperty analysis has been made. Experiments have been conducted by varyingweight fraction of SiC (4%, 6%, 8% and10%), while keeping all other parametersconstant. Friction and wear characteristics of Al-SiC composites have been investigated under dry sliding conditions. Dry sliding wear tests have been carried out using pin-on-disk wear test rate normal loads of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50N and at constant sliding velocity of 1.6m/s. The results show that the 'developed method' is moderately successful to attain uniformdispersion of reinforcement in the matrix. An increasing trend of hardness with increase in weight percentage of SiC has been observed. It was found from the testing that the wear rate decreases linearly with increasing weight fraction of silicon carbide.