ABSTRACT

Conventional stir casting process has been employed for producing discontinuous particle reinforced metal matrix composites for decades. The major problem of this process is to obtain sufficient wetting of particle by liquid metal and to get a homogenous dispersion of the ceramic particles. In the present study, aluminium metal matrix composites were fabricated by different processing temperatures with different holding time to understand the influence of process parameters on the distribution of particle in the matrix and the resultant mechanical properties. The distribution is examined by microstructure analysis, hardness distribution and density distribution.

1. Introduction

Since the early 1960, there is demand for new and improved engineering materials with advancement of modern technology interest in the areas of aerospace, automotive industries had forced a rapid development of metal matrix composites. High demands on material for better overall performance has led to extensive research and development efforts in the composites fields. Among the composites field, the aluminium based metal matrix composite materials are widely used. To meet emerging need, innovations in materials processing enabled achieving an enhancement in stiffness, realization of high strength to weight ratio, an improvement in wear resistance, maintaining strength at elevated temperatures [1,2].

Aluminium based metal matrix composites have been one of the key research areas in materials processing field in the last few decades. Most of the research work has been dealing with aluminium matrix and SiC reinforcement requiring the light weight in combination of high strength and high stiffness. This is because aluminium is lighter weight which is first requirement in most of the industries. In additionally, it provides impressive strength improvement and the thermal expansion coefficient of Al matrix composites can be adjusted by using silicon carbide, carbon and boron carbides [3]. As a result, these materials are now being rapidly utilized in industries that traditionally used metals, and these have become the forefront of research and development activity in the many related areas [4].

The foundry casting processes have been a favoured processing method as they lend themselves to the manufacture of large number of complex shaped components. Especially, the stir casting mostly used to produce the PRMMCs because it shown to be a very promising for the manufacture of near net shape composites in a simple and cost effective manner. The major problem in this technology is to obtain sufficient wetting of particle by the liquid metal and to get a homogeneous dispersion of the ceramic particles [5]. Several structural defects such as porosity, particle clustering, oxide inclusions and interfacial reactions were found to arise from the unsatisfactory casting technology [6]. Smeulders et al., (1986) [7] studied the thixotropic behaviour, development of the particle shape, and particle distribution in the metal matrix composites by using stir casting. The particles size distribution depends on the cooling rate and stirring rate. The processing temperature influence the cooling rate and stirring rate. These both parameters influence particles distribution in the matrix. At low stirring rate, diameter of cluster is appeared is smaller than higher stirring rate.

Lloyd (1989) [8] studied the processing parameters such as processing temperatures, holding time, and velocity of SiCp in liquid melts. This factors influencing the production and microstructures of the cast Al-SiCp composite, and also influence the formation reaction products (Al₄C₃) at the interface of Al-SiCp, which also affects the casting fluidity of composites. Zhou and Xu (1997) [6] studied the particulate reinforced metal matrix composites by gravity casting and two step methods mixing. They were found the improvement of wettability, particles distribution, and also they found SiC particles distribution in the interdendritic regions. Rohatgi et al., (1993) [9] made an attempt to study the influence of impeller geometry and baffles on the uniformity of distribution of SiC in water. This study quantitatively measures the actual SiC concentration. The objective of the study is the influence of stir casting process parameters such as processing temperature and holding time on the uniform distribution of particles and resulting mechanical properties such as Tensile, ductility, hardness and impact behaviour.

2. Experimental Work

The matrix material used for the current study was Al-11Si-Mg alloy, having composition average values provided by the supplier (Sargam metals Ltd., India) in weight percentage as shown in Table 1. The Al-11Si-Mg alloy has an excellent combination of mechanical properties in the cast condition. The matrix material was loaded in a graphite crucible and it was placed inside a top loaded resistance furnace at different temperature level (700˚C, 750˚C, 800˚C, 850˚C, 900˚C). The SiC reinforcement (average size 40 µm, supplied by universal carborendum Ltd, India) was preheated at 1000˚C for two hours before added in the matrix melt. The 10% by volume of preheated SiC powder was added in the liquid melt and the slurry was consciously stirred using a stirring. The four blade Stirrer was designed in order to produce the adequate homogenous particle distribution throughout the matrix material. Four blades stirrer setup is shown in Figure 1. The axial and radial flows are provided to avoid different stagnant zones in the liquid melt by stirrer. Stirring of the mixture is carried out at different holding time (10, 20, and 30 minutes) to achieve homogeneity of particulates. The stainless steel stirrer blade was coated with zirconia to avoid the reaction between stainless steel and Al alloys at higher temperatures. The Argon gas was supplied into the near the crucible during the stirring to avoid the formation of oxide layer on the surface of matrix melt. The Stirring speed 450 rpm was maintained throughout work. The mixture is allowed to solidify in the preheated (300˚C) steel die.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Structure of Al-10% SiCp Composites

The optical micrographs of aluminium composites reinforced with 10% of SiCp are shown in Figures 2(a)-(e). When the specimen was prepared at 700˚C and 750˚C, 800˚C, the particles were distributed uniformly and dendrite structure was more obvious in the microsturcture (figure). There is no large pore and particles clustering existed in these SEM micrographs. However, the other two composites (at 850˚C and 900˚C) having pores and particles clustering. The existence of pores and particle clustering was attributed to the high viscosity and low shearing rate of the melt. The viscosity decreased and the shearing rate decreased when increasing process temperatures. Hence, the particles cluster fairly formed in the melt. This can be attributed more particles clustering in the Al matrix.

It can be seen from the figures that there is an increase the particles cluster corresponding to an increase in the processing temperatures. Which were stirred for a constant speed with longer period at higher temperature, the particles were agglomerated in the melt. Although there is an increase in the particle clustering with increase processing temperature, it was observed that the tendency for formation of particle cluster was greater in the higher holding time than in the low holding time. During the higher holding time with temperature, the geometry of the capturing of the particles does not restrict their movement inside the liquid metal as well as solidification. Also the presence of a low viscosity of liquid metal tents to physically not restricts growth of porosity. Thus, the tendency for particle cluster or porosity is high in the higher temperature with prolonged contact between matrix and reinforcement.

3.2. Effect of Processing Temperatures on Processing Al-SiCp Composites

The effect of processing temperature is illustrated where

the contact time between reinforcement and liquid Al metal with different holding time. The processing temperature is mainly influencing the change in viscosity of Al matrix and also it accelerating the chemical reactions between them. This change of viscosity was calculated theoretically by using Arrihenious equation [10].

where η₀-viscosity of aluminium at the melting temperature, E-Activation energy for viscous flow of aluminium, R-Universal gas constant processing temperature. The viscosity of liquid Al matrix with 10% SiCp is often calculated with the Einstein function as follows [11]:

in which A = 0.0023, B = 16.6, C is volume fraction of particles.

The changes in viscosity with respect to various processing temperatures are shown in Figure 3. The change of viscosity is significant, as can be seen by comparing Al alloy and Al-SiCp composites. The suspending liquid apparent viscosity of Al-SiCp is higher by nearly 38% than the Al matrix without reinforcement. But, the both viscosity is increased when processing temperature increased from 700˚C to 900˚C. The changes of viscosity influence the particle distribution in the Al matrix. At higher viscosity with lower temperature (below 800˚C), the geometric contacts of particles is restricted by vortex

of molten metal. Therefore, the particles are distributed uniformly in this range. But, at lower viscosity with higher temperature (above 800˚C), the geometric of particles are captured and it was unable to restricts by the vortex of molten metal under the constant stirring speed. The conclusion can be drawn that viscosity of liquid decreased when increasing processing temperatures with increasing holding time.

3.3. Effect of Holding Time

Effect of the holding time helps in the Al-SiCp composites mainly two ways: to distribute the particles in the liquid, and to create perfect interface bond between reinforcement and matrix. The holding time between matrix and reinforcement is considered as important factor in the processing of composites. When the holding time is 10 minutes, the particles are distributed uniformly in the matrix at 700˚C, 750˚C and 800˚C. The liquid matrix has sufficient viscosity in the temperature range, and velocity of particles flow is small. The similar results are observed in the 20 minutes holding time. In the case of 30 minutes holding time, the liquid has sufficient viscosity at lower temperature (<800˚C) but the contacts time between matrix and reinforcement too large. During this period, the particles are distributed uniformly in liquid even though some of particles form cluster which could be also are located in the matrix region. A vortex created during the stirring can suck the air or gas bubbles in to the liquid metal. As the results, the particles were attached with air bubbles to form the particles cluster in the matrix. At higher temperature (>800˚C), more particles cluster are found in the composite bar.

4. Effect of Processing Parameters on Mechanical Properties of Al-SiCp

4.1. Tensile Properties

Figure 4 shows the variation in the ultimate tensile strength as a function of temperature is illustrated for Al-10% SiCp composites with different holding time.