Analysis of the Mechanical and Structural Behaviour of Composites Using an Aluminium Matrix Obtained from Milling Swarfs

摘要

The use of powder metallurgy has become a competitive alternative against productsobtained by metal casting and metal forming processes. The technique makes possible to recycle Al-Si swarfs, yielding low cost and high quality raw materials withlow specific mass and good ductility characteristics thereby recommending use tocomposites. The Al-Si powder, obtained by mechanical milling and strengthened with alumina and silicon carbide, was consolidated by an extrusion process at a temperature of 500 deg C. This procedure causes high plastic deformations and reorientation of the powder particles. Analyses using a scanning electron microscope showed products with good cohesion, which was result of the forming process. The mechanical properties of the composites were similar to those when using conventional techniques; however, due to the hard particles dispersed within the matrix, an improvement in wear resistance was observed.