Application of traditional investment casting process to aluminium matrix composites

Abstract This paper is aimed at studying the application of traditional investment casting process to obtain components in discontinuously particle reinforced aluminium matrix composites. Using the double stir method, a mixed liquid slurry of aluminium alloy and 20% SiC or 7.5% B 4 C carbides was obtained. As a case study a component from the textile sector was produced in unreinforced alloy and in both composites. The wear resistance of the components in the three different materials was ranked. Moreover, analysis of particle distribution and optical and scanning electron microscope observations of reaction products were also performed. Results show that components in aluminium alloy with SiC as reinforcement have uniform distribution of ceramic particles, sound interface without fragile compounds and wear resistance higher than that of components reinforced with B 4 C particles.

[1]  J. Bouix,et al.  Chemical reactivity of aluminium with boron carbide , 1997 .

[2]  D. Miracle.  Metal matrix composites – From science to technological significance , 2005 .

[3]  S. Prasad,et al.  Aluminum Metal-Matrix Composites for Automotive Applications: Tribological Considerations , 2004 .

[4]  A. Ureña,et al.  Oxidation treatments for SiC particles used as reinforcement in aluminium matrix composites , 2004 .

[5]  A. Kennedy.  The microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-Si-B4C metal matrix composites , 2002 .

[6]  R. Asthana.  Reinforced cast metals: Part II Evolution of the interface , 1998 .

[7]  M.S.J. Hashmi,et al.  Metal matrix composites: production by the stir casting method , 1999 .

[8]  L. Froyen,et al.  Microstructure and interface characteristics of B4C, SiC and Al2O3 reinforced Al matrix composites: a comparative study , 2001 .

[9]  R. Asthana.  Processing Effects on the Engineering Properties of Cast Metal-Matrix Composites , 1998 .

[10]  M. Hashmi,et al.  The wettability of SiC particles by molten aluminium alloy , 2001 .

[11]  M.S.J. Hashmi,et al.  The enhancement of wettability of SiC particles in cast aluminium matrix composites , 2001 .

[12]  S. Turan,et al.  Quantitative X-ray diffraction analysis of reactive infiltrated boron carbide-aluminium composites , 2003 .

[13]  I. Rajendran,et al.  Wear behaviour of A356/25SiCp aluminium matrix composites sliding against automobile friction material , 2006 .

[14]  M. K. Surappa,et al.  Aluminium matrix composites: Challenges and opportunities , 2003 .

[15]  H. Degischer.  INNOVATIVE LIGHT METALS : METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES AND FOAMED ALUMINIUM , 1997 .

[16]  W. Harrigan.  Commercial processing of metal matrix composites , 1998 .

[17]  W. Lee,et al.  The processing of metal matrix composites — an overview , 1997 .

[18]  J. Cornie,et al.  Wetting of ceramic particulates with liquid aluminum alloys: Part II. Study of wettability , 1989 .

[19]  A. Kennedy,et al.  The incorporation of ceramic particles in molten aluminium and the relationship to contact angle data , 1999 .

[20]  S. Peteves,et al.  Microstructure and microchemistry of the Al/SiC interface , 1990 .

[21]  L. Nicolais,et al.  Degradation of SiC particles in aluminium-based composites , 1994 .

[22]  D. Lloyd.  Particle reinforced aluminium and magnesium matrix composites , 1994 .

[23]  Wei Zhou,et al.  Casting of SiC reinforced metal matrix composites , 1997 .

[24]  Douglas C. Montgomery,et al.  Introduction to Statistical Quality Control , 1986 .

[25]  J. Bouix,et al.  Composition and lattice parameters of a new aluminium-rich borocarbide , 1992 .

[26]  Mohamed A. Taha,et al.  Practicalization of cast metal matrix composites (MMCCs) , 2001 .

[27]  R. Asthana.  Reinforced cast metals: Part I Solidification microstructure , 1998 .

[28]  W. Kool,et al.  Properties of semisolid aluminium matrix composites , 1994 .

[29]  R. M. Pillai,et al.  Reinforcement coatings and interfaces in aluminium metal matrix composites , 1998 .

[30]  D. Brabazon,et al.  Computational and experimental analysis of particulate distribution during Al-SiC MMC fabrication , 2007 .

[31]  O. Liuzhang,et al.  The fabrication and properties of particle reinforced cast metal matrix composites , 1997 .