Heat and Wear Resistance Characterization of SiCp Reinforced Al Matrix Composites

SiCp입자강화 Al 복합재료의 내열 및 마모특성

Al matrix composites as the most promising MMCs can be expected to be excellent engineering materials in the nearest future. So as to improve material properties of composite, many manufacturing processes have been developed. Among them, squeeze casting process which offers fine microstructure and near-net-shape is one of the most successful MMCs manufacturing processes. But, in case of with subsieve size particles (under 44 ${\mu}m$), it is very difficult to homogeneously distribute particles in matrix of Al matrix composite by various casting processes, including squeeze casting used so far. Duplex process which was developed in previous study was used to distribute the particle of subsieve size more homogeneously in matrix of Al matrix composite. Microstructures, wear and heat resistance characterization of Al-Si-Cu-Mg-(Ni)/SiCp manufactured by duplex process were examined to clarify the effect of manufacturing conditions, particle size of reinforcement and alloying elements. Al matrix composites reinforced with SiCp(10 ${\mu}m$) have the lowest wear amount among composites reinforced with 3 ${\mu}m$, 5 ${\mu}m$ and 10 ${\mu}m$ SiCp. The wear amount of Al matrix composites with 10 wt.% SiCp(3, 5, 10 ${\mu}m$) was decreased according to the increase of the sliding speed because abrasive wear takes place at high sliding speed of 4m/s and worn debris with block type occurs at low sliding speed of 1m/s. As for heat resistance, it is made clear that remarkable heat resistance property can be obtained by addition of Ni element in Al matrix composites.