Microstructure and Wear Behavior of B4C Particulates Reinforced Al-4.5%Cu Alloy Composites

Abstract

The work is carried out to investigate and study the microstructure and tensile behavior of B 4 C reinforced Al-4.5% Cu alloy metal matrix composites. In the present work Al-4.5% Cu alloy was taken as the base matrix and B 4 C particulates as reinforcement material to prepare metal matrix composites by stir casting method. For metal matrix composites the reinforcement material was varied from 0 to 4 wt. % in steps of 2 wt. %. For each composite, the reinforcement particulates were preheated to a temperature of 300°C and dispersed into a vortex of molten Al-4.5% Cu alloy. The microstructural characterization was done using scanning electron microscope. Tensile properties like ultimate tensile strength and yield strength were evaluated as per ASTM standards. Further, scanning electron microphotographs revealed that there was uniform distribution of B 4 C particulates in Al-4.5% Cu alloy matrix. Ultimate tensile strength and yield strength increased as wt. % of B 4 C increased in the base matrix.