Effect of SiC on Mechanical, Microstructure and Tribological properties of Aluminum MMC processed by Stir Casting

摘要

Stir casting process is an effective manufacturing technique for producing metal matrix co mposites. The extensively use reinforcing materials for the alu minu m mat rix composites are silicon carbide, alu minu m o xide and graphite in the variety of particles . In this work, the effect of addit ion of SiC reinforcement on the microstructure, mechanical and wear properties of the A15083-SiC MM Cs has been studied. Aluminum matrix co mposite has been prepared by adding 3, 5 and 7 wt . % SiC through Stir casting process. The wear t ests have been conducted using a pin on disc configuration under normal loads of 10, 20 & 30 N. The tribological behaviour was evaluated at a sliding velocity of 3.14 m/s and distance of 942 m. After the wear tests, the worn out surface of test specimens have been observed with Olympus inverted optical microscope to analyse the wear mechanis ms. Microhardness tests were emp loyed to measure the microhardness number (VHN) of Al 5083-SiC MMCs by indenting the diamond indenter. The tensile tests were conducted on universal testing machine to know the improvements in the strength. Microstructures are observed by using SEM and XRD analysis.The Tribological properties are superior with the increasing of addit ion of SiC particles to the alu minu m matrix. The images of scanning electron microscopy shows a uniform d istribution of SiC particles in the alu min iu m metal matrix.