Effect of the Matrix and Reinforcement Sizes on the Microstructure, the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Al-SiC Composites

Abstract

Different Al-SiC metal matrix composites (MMCs) with a different matrix, reinforcement sizes, and volume fractions were fabricated using ball milling (BM) and powder metallurgy (PM) techniques. Al and Al-SiC composites with different volume fractions were milled for 120 h. Then, the Al and Al-SiC composites were pressed under 125 MPa and finally sintered at 450 °C. Moreover, microsize and combination between micro and nano sizes Al-SiC samples were prepared by the same way. The effect of the Al matrix, SiC reinforcement sizes and the SiC volume fraction on the microstructure evolution, physical and mechanical properties of the produced composites was investigated. The BM and powder metallurgy techniques followed by sintering produce fully dense Al-SiC composite samples with different matrix and reinforcement sizes. The SiC particle size was observed to have a higher effect on the thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity, and microhardness of the produced composites than that of the SiC volume fraction. The decreasing of the Al and SiC particle sizes and increasing of the SiC volume fraction deteriorate the physical properties. On the other hand, the microhardness was enhanced with the decreasing of the Al, SiC particle sizes and the increasing of the SiC volume fraction.