Study on the Effect of Volume Fraction (Vf%) SiC Addition to The Characteristics of Mg-Al-Sr / SiC Composites Using Stir Casting Method

Abstract

Abstract In this study a magnesium metal matrix composite fabrication process was carried out combined with Al-15Sr alloy which will create intermetallic phases of Mg17Al12 and Mg58Al38Sr4. Reinforce material that is used for this study is SiC with an amount of 2, 4, 6, 8 vf%. Stir casting is used as the fabrication method as it doesn’t require much maintenance and relatively cheap. Argon is used as a shielding gas so oxidation does not occur to magnesium and prevent combustion. The composite is then casted into a SKD 61 metal mold and then cooled so it can be characterized by the various tests it will go through. SiC is added as the reinforcement material in hopes to increase the mechanical properties of the composite. This can be seen when the composite go through a number of tests, including microstructure analysis, SEM, XRD testing, and various mechanical tests. Through this procedure is it then concluded that composite with 6 vf% SiC is the optimum amount of reinforce material which results in UTS of 51,09 MPa, hardness of 73 HRH, impact strength of 0.0367 J/mm2 and abrasion rate of 5.68 x 10−3 mm3/m.