Exhaustive Investigation Into the Corrosion Resilience of Aluminium-silicon Carbide Metal Matrix Composites

Abstract

Abstract In recent years, there has been a noteworthy surge in the fascination surrounding Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs), driven by their remarkable corrosion resilience and superior mechanical attributes. Notably, aluminum and its alloys have garnered substantial utilization across diverse industries, prominently in manufacturing and aerospace, owing to their trifecta of attributes - lightweight construction, heightened mechanical prowess, and corrosion-resistant characteristics. Aluminum, being highly amenable to alloying, has been synergistically blended with Silicon Carbide (SiC) in weight-proportional ratios of 12% and 13% in the present investigation, thereby elevating these already laudable attributes of the base material. The focal point of this study has been the evaluation of the corrosion resistance exhibited by these newly formulated MMCs. A salient methodology employed for this purpose was the utilization of a rigorous salt spray corrosion test, extending over a duration of 96 hours. The findings stemming from these corrosion assessments unequivocally substantiate the marked superiority in corrosion resistance exhibited by both MMC variants in comparison to their pure aluminum counterpart. This heightened corrosion resilience can be ascribed principally to the presence of SiC particulates within the MMCs, which function as formidable impediments, effectively curtailing the ingress and migration of corrosive agents towards the metal matrix. Moreover, the outcomes gleaned from this study offer valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of composite material corrosion behavior. It becomes apparent that various auxiliary factors exert a profound influence on the corrosion dynamics of these advanced materials.