• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.537-549
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• 1996

This study aims at investigating the correlation of microstructure and mechanical properties of the AZ91 Mg/Al borate whisker composites fabricated by squeeze csting technique with a variation of applied pressure. Microstructure observation and in-situ fracture tests were conducted on the composites to identify the microfracture process. Detailed microstructural analyses indicated that the grain refinement could be achieved with applied pressure and the little change in volume fraction on reinforcing whiskers could be carried out. It was also found clearly from in-situ observation of crack initiation and propagation that in the composite processed by the lower applied pressure, microcracks were initiated earily at whisker/matrix interfaces, thereby resulting in the drop in strength. In the composite processed by the higher applied pressure, on the other hand, planar slip lines were well developed in the matrix, and then propagated through whiskers without whisker/matrix decohesion. Thus, the effect of the applied pressure on microstructure and mechanical properties can be explained by grain refinement, increased amounts of reinforcements, and improvement of whisker/matrix interfacial strength as the applied pressure in increased.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.80-87
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• 2005

The microstructure and mechanical property of the Ni and Ni-Cr porous metal reinforced AC4C matrix composites fabricated by squeeze casting were investigated. In this study Ni, Ni-Cr porous metals which are estimated to be easy to fabricate by squeeze casting are used as strengtheners for composite materials. As a matrix material, Al-7wt.%Si-0.3wt.%Mg(AC4C) has been used. In case of Ni/AC4C and Ni-Cr/AC4C composite, $750^{\circ}C$ melt temperature and minimum 25MPa squeezing pressure are needed to produce sound composite materials. The observation of interfacial reaction zone at various heat treatment condition shows that atsolutionizing temperature of above $520^{\circ}C$, the interfacial reaction zone increases proportionally with heat treatment time and the reaction products formed by interfacial reactions are mainly composed by $Al_{3}Ni$ and $Al_{3}Ni_{2}$ phases.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.57-63
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• 1999

The fabrication of $Al_2O_3/Al$ composites by pressureless infiltration technique was made to investigate the effects of processing variables such as content of Mg, processing temperature and time on the infiltration behavior of molten Al and microstructure. When the pure Al was infiltrated into mixtures of Mg and $Al_2O_3$ powder, processing temperature required to spontaneous infiltration was decreased and critical processing temperature and Mg content were $700^{\circ}C$ and 3wt% respectively. The content of Mg was found the most powerful variable for infiltration of molten Al. The infiltration ratio increased with Mg content and processing temperature, however the $Al_2O_3/Al$ composites which were fabricated by high Mg content and processing temperature resulted in non uniform dispersion of $Al_2O_3$ particles by excessive interfacial reaction. XRD pattern indicated that $MgAl_2O_4$ and AIN was observed at the interface of $Al_2O_3$ particles and in the Al matrix as reaction products.

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

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2016

This paper describes a study on the effects of $Mg_2Si_{(p)}$ addition on the microstructure, porosity, and mechanical properties namely hardness and tensile properties of AA332 composite. Each composite respectively contains 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt% reinforcement particles developed by a stir-casting. The molten composite was stirred at 600 rpm and melted at $900^{\circ}C{\pm}5^{\circ}C$. The $Mg_2Si$ particles were wrapped in an aluminum foil to keep them from burning when melting. The findings revealed that the microstructure of $Mg_2Si_{(p)}/AA332$ consists of ${\alpha}$-Al, binary eutectic ($Al+Mg_2Si$), $Mg_2Si$ particles, and intermetallic compound. The intermetallic compound was identified as Fe-rich and Cu-rich, formed as polygonal or blocky, Chinese script, needle-like, and polyhendrons or "skeleton like". The porosity of $Mg_2Si_{(p)}/AA332$ composite increased from 8-10% and the density decreased from 9-12% from as-cast. Mechanical properties such as hardness increased for over 42% from as-cast and the highest UTS, elongation, and maximum Q.I were achieved in the sample of 10% $Mg_2Si$. The study concludes that combined with AA332, the amount of 10 wt% of$Mg_2Si$ is a suitable reinforcement quantity with the combination ofAA332.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2000

Casting of metal matrix composites is an attractive process since it offers a wide selection of materials and processing conditions. Among the casting methods, melt-stirring technology is much attractive route in industrial application because it is more simple and inexpensive compared to squeeze casting or powder metallurgy. In the present work, effects of particle size, volume fraction of particles and mg addition on mechanical properties and thermal expansion coefficients of $\alpha$ -$Al_2O_{3(p)}$/LXA composites were studied. It is shown that $\alpha$ -$Al_2O_3$ particles formed at the interface of $\alpha$ -$Al_2O_3$ particles and matrix made an important role on mechanical properties. Ultimate tensile strength of most composite materials was not increased. But in the case of 5vol% addition of 16$\mu\textrm{m}$ $\alpha$ -$Al_2O_3$ Particle, Ultimate tensile strength of composite materials with 3wt.% Mg was increased. Volume fraction of reinforcements and mg content were thermal expansion coefficients of composite materials were decreased.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.281-289
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• 1999

The stirred and thixoformed $SiC_p/AZ91HP$ Mg composites are studied on the basis of microstructural analysis using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The products of interfacial reaction are identified as $Mg_2Si$, MgO and $Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ phases and the crystallized phases are found to be orthorhmbic $Al_6Mn$ and decagonal T phases. It is shown that $Mg_2Si$ and $Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ phases are found at the surface of $SiC_p$ and $Al_6Mn$ is found near interface and crystallized on the matrix. Phase identification is carried out by crystallographic work based on primitive cell volume, zero order Laue zone (ZOLZ) patterns and single convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) patterns containing higher order Laue zone ring from a nanosized region.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.139-142
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• 2000

The SiCp/AC8A composites were fabricated by the pressureless metal infiltration process successfully. The effect of additional Mg, which were mixed with SiC particles to promote interfacial wetting between the reinforcement and matrix alloy, and particle size on the mechanical properties was investigated. By increasing the additional Mg content the hardness of SiCp/AC8A composites was increased due to the hard reaction products, but the bending strength was decreased by the excess reaction of Mg and high porosity level when the additional Mg content is over 7%. The Hardness and bending strength was increased by decreasing the size of SiC particle.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 1994

6061Al-SiCP metal matrix composite materials(MMCs) were fabricated by injecting SiCP particles directly into the atomized spray. The main attraction of this technique is the rapid fabrication of semi-finished, composite products in a combined atomization, particulate injection(10 $\mu\textrm{m}$, 40 $\mu\textrm{m}$, SiCP) and deposition operation. Conclusions obtained are as follows; The microstructure of the unreinforced spray formed 6061Al alloy consisted of relatively fine(50 $\mu\textrm{m}$) equiaxed grains. By comparision, the microstructure of the I/M materials was segregated and consisted of relatively coarse(150 $\mu\textrm{m}$) grains. The probability of clustering of SiCP particles in co-sprayed metal matrix composites increased it ceramic particle size(SiCP) was reduced and the volume fraction was held constant. Analysis of overspray powders collected from the spray atomization and deposition experiments indicated that morphology of powders were nearly spherical and degree of powders sphercity was deviated due to composite with SiCp particles. Interfacial bonding between matrix and ceramics was improved by heat treatment and addition of alloying elements(Mg). Maximum hardness values [Hv: 165 kg/mm2 for Al-10 $\mu\textrm{m}$ SiCp Hv--159 kg/mm2 for Al-40 $\mu\textrm{m}$SiCp] were obtained through the solution heat treatment at $530^{\circ}C$ for 2 hrs and aging at $178^{\circ}C$, and there by the resistance were improved.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2000

Ni and Ni-Cr porous metals which are estimated to be easy to fabricate by squeeze casting are used as strengtheners for composite materials. As a matrix material, Al-7%wtSi-0.3 wt%Mg(AC4C) has been used. In case of Ni/AC4C and Ni-Cr/AC4C composite, $750^{\circ}C$ melt temperature and minimum 25 MPa squeezing pressure are needed to produce sound composite materials. The observation of interfacial reaction zone at various heat treatment condition showed that solutionizing temperature of above 520^{\circ}C$, the interfacial reaction zone increased proportionally with increasing heat treatment tim and reaction products formed by interfacial reaction are mainly composed of $Al_3Ni$ and $Al_3Ni_2$ phases. The tensile strength of Ni/AC4C and Ni-Cr/AC4C composite is lower than the matrix metal and this can be explained by the brittle intermetallic compounds formed at the interface of Ni and Ni-Cr reinforcements. But the properies of hardness, wear resistance and thermal expansion are better than the matrix due to the strengthening effect of Ni-Cr porous metals.