• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.300-306
• /
• 2000

The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of SiC particle size(50, 100 ${\mu}m$) and additional elements such as Si, Cu and Ti on aging behavior in Al-5Mg-X(Si,Cu,Ti)/SiCp composites fabricated by pressureless infiltration method using hardness and wear test, scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC). The peak aging time in Al-5Mg-X(Si, Cu, Ti)/SiCp(50, 100 ${\mu}m$) composites is shorter than Al-5Mg-0.3Si alloy.The peak aging time of 50 ${\mu}m$ SiC particle reinforced Al-5Mg-X(Si,Cu,Ti) composites is shorter than those of 100 ${\mu}m$ SiC particle reinforced of Al-5Mg-X(Si,Cu,Ti) composites. The Al-5Mg-0.3Si-0.1Cu-0.1Ti/SiCp(50 ${\mu}m$) composites aged at $180^{\circ}C$ has higher hardness and better wear resistance than any other aged composite.The aging effect is promoted by the addition of Si and Cu in Al-5Mg/SiCp composites, so the wear resistance of Al-5Mg/SiCp composites with Si and Cu elements is enhanced by the aging treatment.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.26-41
• /
• 1997

The powder metallurgy (P/M) processed 2009 and 2124 Al composites reinforced with SiC particulates were studied by focusing on the effect of consolidation temperature on the microstructural and mechanical Properties. The mechanical properties such as tensile properties and microhardness of the second phases were analysed in relation to the microstructures observed by a SEM and an optical microscope. The in situ fracture process study using SEM showed that the grain refinement and the removal of manganese-containing particles often observed in the 2124 Al-${SiC}_{p}$ composites were important for the improvement of the mechanical properties. This study offers an optimum consolidation temperature for the control of the manganese-containing particles in the 2124 Al-${SiC}_{p}$ composites that yields mechanical properties higher than those of the 2009 Al-${SiC}_{p}$ composites.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.359-367
• /
• 2000

Particulate composites of Al2O3/SiC, Al2O3/ZrO2 and Al2O3/ZrO2/SiC have been fabricated to investigate their R-curve behaviors and toughening mechanisms. Al2O3 containing 30 vol% SiC particles of 3${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ showed rising R-curve behavior owing to the strong crack bridging by SiC particles. The fracture toughness reached 9.1 MPa {{{{ SQRT {m} }} at the crack length of 1000${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. On the other hand, ZrO2-toughened Al2O3 had a high flat R-curve since it rose steeply in the short crack region due to the well known transformation toughening. For Al2O3/ZrO2/SiC composites, the R-curve behavior was similar to that of Al2O3/SiC but with slightly higher toughness. The SiC particles in this composite decreased the amount of transformable tetragonal phase to reduce the effect of transformation toughening by 50%. It was also found that the fracture toughness of this composite with two different toughening mechanisms was markedly lower than that estimated by the simple addition of two contributions.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.286-293
• /
• 1999

This study was to analyse the relationship between process parameters of the sintered composite and plasma nitriding properties with pulsed DC plasma. Fe-40at%$SiC_p$ composites of full density were fabricated by hot pressing at 1100~$1150^{\circ}C$. Sintered Fe-40at%Al and Fe-40at%$Al/SiC_p$ alloys were nitrided under pulsed DC plasma. Excellent surface hardness in the FeAl alloys could be obtained by plasma nitriding. ($H_v$ :100gf, diffusion layer : 1100~$1450kg/mm^2$, matrix : 330~$360kg/mm^2$) The wear resistance of $FeAl/SiC_p$ composites were improved about by 4~6times than FeAl and nitrided $FeAl/SiC_p$ were improved about 2 times than $FeAl/SiC_p$ matrix.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.170-179
• /
• 1997

A noble technique has been developed for fabricating in situ formed $TiC_p/Al$ composites. In this process, fairly stable TiC particles were in situ synthesized in liquid aluminum by the interfacial reaction between an Al-Ti melt and SiC, which is a comparatively unstable carbide from the view-point of thermodynamics. It is possible in the present process to generate TiC particles of nearly 1 ${\mu}m$ in diameter, even utilizing SiC of 14 ${\mu}m$ as raw material. However, the dispersion behavior of TiC particles in the matrix depends on the size of the raw material SiC. Decomposing finer SiC makes the dispersion of TiC particles more uniform and the mechanical properties of composites are improved accordingly. The structure of in situ composites and their mechanical properties are affected by the fabrication temperature and the stirring time. It has been found that the most suitable condition for fabrication should be applied depending on the size of the raw material, even if the same kinds of carbide are used. Furthermore, although Al-Ti-Si system intermetallic compounds are detected in a $TiC_p/Al-Si$ composite which is fabricated by conventional melt-stirrng method, these compounds can not be observed in a $TiC_p/Al-Si$ composite made by this in situ production method. Hence the mechanical properties of the in situ $TiC_p/Al-Si$ composite are superior to those of the conventional $TiC_p/Al-Si$ composites.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.174-181
• /
• 2005

In order to investigate the behavior of fatigue crack growth of SiC-particulate- reinforced Al-Si alloy composites, fatigue tests using single edge notched tension(SENT) specimens were performed. Composite materials were manufactured by using both permanent die casting and extrusion processes with different volume fractions of $10\%\;and\;20\%$. $SiC_p-reinfurced$ Al-Si composites showed the increased levels of threshold stress intensity factor range, ${\Delta}K_{th}$, for the increased volume fractions of SiC particles, which implies the increased fatigue crack growth resistance at the threshold or low ${\Delta}K$ levels, compared to the unreinforced Al-Si alloy. In the Paris region, however, the composites showed the increased rate of crack growth resulting in the unfavorable effects on the fatigue crack growth resistance. Critical stress intensity factor range at unstable crack growth leading to final fracture decreased as the volume fraction of SiC particle increased, because of the reduced fracture toughness of the composites. Extruded materials showed higher threshold and critical values than the cast materials.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.350-358
• /
• 1993

Aluminum base composites reinforced with various amount of SiC particles and Mg contents have been investigated by different fabrication method for twenty-years. In this paper, how the decomposition and dissolution behaviors of $SiCp(20{\mu}m)$ in the melt of Al composites arised was studied. As the results, the decomposition and dissolution of SiCp into the melt of Al composites increased with increase of the temperature above $720^{\circ}C$, and holding time at a given melting temperature. Because SiC is thermodynamically unstable in this Al-SiCp composite at temperature above the liquidus, SiCp dissolves and reacts with Al in matrix to form $Al_4C_3$ according to following chemical equation $4Al+3SiC{\rightarrow}Al_4C_3+3Si$, Si decomposed and dissolved from SiCp increases Si content of matrix, while liquidus temperature of matrix decrease with increase of SiC content in matrix. The hardness of SiCp decreased with increase of the melting temperature, the hardness of the matrix /particle interface increased with increase of the melting temperature due to increase of the $Mg_2Si$ and $Al_4C_3$ intermetallic compounds, etc.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.28-35
• /
• 1997

SiC whisker and $Al_2O_3-SiO_2$ short fiber reinforced AC8A, AC8B and AC8B(J) marix composites were fabricated by squeeze casting method. Preform deformation, change of reinforcement volumefraction and formation of macro-segregation in two composites were investigated by using micro Vickers hardness test, analysis of macro and micro structures with OM, SEM and EDAX. $Al_2O_3-SiO_2$ short fiber preform manufactured with 5% $SiO_2$ binder in this study was considerably deformed and cracked, nevertheless, the short fibers were distributed homogeneously in the composites. In SiC whisker reinforced composites, on the other hand, preform deforming and cracking were not occurred, however, macro segregation zone formed along the infiltration routes by interface reaction during infiltration of molten metal into the preform was observed at center-low area in the composites. The decrease of hardness in the macro segregation zone resulted from the depletion of Si and Mg atoms.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.483-490
• /
• 1997

Al2O3/metal composites were fabricated by oxidation and reaction of molten Al-alloy into two types of commercial Al2O3-SiO2 fibrous insulation board. The growth rate, composition and microstructure of these materials were described. An AlZnMg(7075) alloy was selected as a parent alloy. Mixed polycrystalline fiber and glass phase fiber were used as a filler. The growth surface of an alloy was covered with and without SiO2. SiO2 powder was employed as a surface dopant to aid initial oxidation of Al-alloy. Al-alloy, SiO2, fiber block and growth inhibitor CaSiO3 were packed sequentially in a alumina crucible and oxidized in air at temperature range 90$0^{\circ}C$ to 120$0^{\circ}C$. The growth rate of composite layer was calculated by measuring the mass increasement(g) per unit surface($\textrm{cm}^2$). XRD and optical microscope were used to investigate the composition and phase of composites. The composite grown at 120$0^{\circ}C$ and with SiO2 dopant showed rapid growth rate. The growth behavior differed a little depending on the types of fiber used. The composites consist of $\alpha$-Al2O3, Al, Si and pore. The composite grown at 100$0^{\circ}C$ exhibited better microstructure compared to that grown at 120$0^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.385-392
• /
• 1997

The main objective of this study is to investigate the microstructure and tensile strength of $SiC_p$/Al alloy composites fabricated by die casting method. Die casting was performed using the preheated mold at the pouring temperature range of $620{\sim}750^{\circ}C$ under the pressure of $1,039 kgf/cm^2$. The low speed and a following high injection speed were 0.4 and 2.1 m/s, respectively. The microstructure of $SiC_p$/Al alloy composites fabricated by die casting method was found to be finer than that of composites fabricated by gravity casting. Also, SiC particulates were homogeneously distributed in refined Al matrix due to rapid solidification. The tensile strength of $SiC_p$/Al alloy composites fabricated by die casting method was found to be varied with cast temperature. The maximun tensile strength of $SiC_p$(10 vol.% and 20 vol.%)/Al alloy composites showed 380 MPa at the cast temperature of $750^{\circ}C$ and 363 MPa at the cast temperature of $700^{\circ}C$, respectively.