Influence of SiC Particle Size and Solution Treatment on Properties of AL-Si Alloy Based Metal Matrix Composite

This paper reports the influence of particle size and heat treatment (T6) on some mechanical properties of Al-Si alloy based SiC particulate composites. The T6 heat treatment was carried out to improve' the mechanical properties. The heat treatment consists of solution treatment and quenching followed by artificial ageing. After solution treatment and quenching, copper and magnesium rich compounds dissolve in aluminium matrix. The composites produced by stir casting technique were solution treated isothermally at 538°C for 8 hrs to dissolve the precipitates. An electric furnace with a temperature control of ±3°C was used for solution treatment. Ageing was carried out at 155°C for 5 hrs. The mechanical properties such as hardness, tensile strength, failure strain and compressive behaviour have been studied for 9,11,15,40 and 60-micron size particulate added Al-Si (A384) alloy. The fracture behaviour and microstructural aspects were studied from microstructure and SEM photograph.