Silicon Carbide Effect as Reinforcement on Aluminium Metal Matrix Composite

In the present study aluminium silicon carbide (Al/SiC) composites were prepared by powder metallurgical method. The mechanical and morphological evaluation were studied upon the variation of reinforcements percentages i.e.10, 15 and 20 wt.% of SiC powder were used as the reinforcements in aluminium matrix. The comparison of powder metallurgy method with stir casting method of Al/ (SiC) composites preparation was performed and the particle reinforcements were visualized through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results demonstrated increased hardness with increasing wt. % of SiC particles. This was attributed to efficient stress transfer and dislocation strengthening. In addition, the densification behaviour of the composites was also studied and SiC particulates were found to exhibit profound effect on composites density.