The effect of SiC content on microstructural and tribological properties of sintered B4C and SiC reinforced Al–Cu–Mg–Si matrix hybrid composites

Abstract

Abstract In this study, B4C and SiC hybrid reinforced Al–Cu–Mg–Si alloy Matrix composites were fabricated using a microwave sintering technique at a sintering temperature of 550 °C for 60 min. In the produced hybrid composites, while the B4C ratio was kept constant (3 wt%), SiC was used in four different amounts (3, 6, 9, and 12 wt%). In these produced hybrid composites, as a result of microwave sintering, thanks to the high microwave absorption of SiC, the porosities closed at a rate of 36.65–40.90%. In 3, 6, 9, and 12 wt% SiC reinforced composites, the microhardness of 100.1, 106.8, 114.4, and 117.2 HV0.05 were achieved, respectively. Due to agglomeration increasing with SiC reinforcement rate, delamination wears increased in 12 wt% SiC reinforced hybrid composite. As a result, the lowest specific wear rate was measured as 0.3374 × 10−3 mm3·(Nm)−1 in the 3 wt% B4C+9 wt% SiC reinforced sample.