FABRICATION AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF STIR CAST AL-SI12CU/B4C COMPOSITES

Abstract

The present study was made to understand the fabrication and mechanical properties of Al-Si12Cu/B 4 C Metal Matrix Composites. The composites were fabricated by reinforcing B 4 C particles with varying wt % of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10, using stir casting process. The performance of the composites was compared with the alloy to study the improvement in mechanical properties that has been imparted by the reinforcement particles to the composites. The microstructure was examined on the composite specimens using optical microscope to confirm the homogeneous dispersion of reinforcement particles in the matrix. Mechanical properties such as hardness and tensile strength were tested on the composite using Brinell hardness tester and computerized Universal Testing Machine respectively. The results revealed that the B 4 C particles were homogeneously distributed in the composite. The hardness and tensile test results showed that, by increasing wt % of reinforcement particles in the matrix, hardness and tensile strength of the composites was improved to 6.97 % and 33 % respectively compare to base alloy.