The Effect of Compression Load, Sintering Temperature and Sintering Time during Production the of Aluminum Based Metal

Matrix Composites
Raghunath.K1, Rajkumar.D2, Pon swarna raja pandian.S3, Rajesh.S4 1, 2, 3: Final Year Mechanical Engineering, Kalasalingam University, Krishnankoil. 4: Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Kalasalingam University, Krishnankoil. Contact No 1, 2,3: 9486123764,9486225660, 9566780890. Email: raghunathkbtech@gmail.com1, kdkumar2001@gmail.com2

Abstract In this paper attempt has been taken to fabricate aluminum based Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) using tungsten carbide as reinforcement material and aluminum as matrix material. During the fabrication the effect of load, sintering temperature and sintering time were analyzed. The result reveled that increases in load, temperature and time increase the mechanical properties of the material to the certain level. Increases in reinforcement content beyond 15% decreases the mechanical properties of materials. Keywords: Metal matrix composite, Aluminium, Tungsten carbide, Load, sintering temperature and time. Introduction Metal matrix composites offer a number of advantages compared to their base metals, such as higher specific strengths and moduli, higher elevated temperature resistance, matrix composites, including higher matrix dependent strength and moduli, higher elevated temperature resistance, no moisture absorption, higher electrical and thermal conductivities, and nonflammability.

lower coefficients of thermal expansion, and, in some cases, better wear resistance. On the down side, they are more expensive than their base metals and have lower toughness. Metal matrix composites also have some advantages compared to polymer
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However, metal matrix composites (MMCs) are normally more expensive than even polymer matrix composites, and the

fabrication processes are much more limited, especially for complex structural shapes. Due to their high cost, commercial

applications for metal matrix composites are sparse. There are some limited uses for discontinuously almost no reinforced current MMCs but for

REINFORCEMENT MATERIAL: Reinforcement increases the strength,

applications

stiffness and the temperature resistance capacity and lowers the density of MMC. In order to achieve these properties the selection depends on the type of

continuously reinforced MMCs. Therefore, in this work attempt has been to fabricate the parts with the help of the discontinuous reinforcement particulate materials. MATRIX MATERIAL: The matrix can be selected on the basis of oxidation and corrosion resistance or other properties. Generally Al, Ti, Mg, Ni, Cu, Pb, Fe, Ag, Zn, Sn and Si are used as the matrix material, but Al and Mg are used widely. Now a days researchers all over the world are focusing mainly on aluminium because of its unique combination of good corrosion resistance, low density and excellent

reinforcement, its method of production and chemical compatibility with the matrix. MMC reinforcements can be metallic (such as tungsten and cobalt), non-metallic (most often carbon, graphite, or boron), or ceramic (for example, oxide silicon (Al2O3), carbide boron

(SiC),aluminum

nitride, tungsten carbide, titanium diboride, titanium carbide, orboron carbide).Here selected reinforcement material is tungsten carbide which posses high strength, rigidity, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, surface finishes etc. Experimental Setup When higher strength discontinuous MMCs are required, PM processes are often used because segregation, brittle reaction

mechanical properties. In addition, literature also reveals that most of the published work has considered aluminium-based composites with their attractions of low density, wide alloy range, heat treatment capability and flexibility. So Aluminium is selected as a base material for our project.

products, and high residual stresses from solidification shrinkage can be minimized. In addition, with the advent of rapid solidification technology, and the mechanical matrix alloying be

alloy can

produced as a pre alloyed powder, rather

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than starting with elemental blends. In Metal matrix composite, the method of the introduction of particles into the matrix melt is one of the most important aspects in composition. The commercially different sizes of reinforcement materials are

different loads to fabricate specimen. The size of the specimen is 30 mm and height may vary from 4 to 30mm. Three different loads were applied to produce specimen, namely 200, 250 and 300 kN. The temperature in the furnace is varied from 500,550 and 6000C. The time in the furnace is varied from 30 to 60 min. Three different percentages of reinforcements were used for fabrication and it is listed in the table 1.

available. In this work the average particle of the reinforcement material is 13 to 20 microns. The aluminum powder average particle size is 300 microns. The materials are blended uniformly and pressed at

Table 1 Composition Load 200KN Weight (gm) 95% AL 5% WL 90% AL 10% WL 85% AL 15% WL 80%AL 20%WL 7 7 7 7 10 10 10 10 Load 250KN Weight (gm) 7 7 7 7 10 10 10 10 Load 300KN Weight (gm) 7 7 7 7 10 10 10 10

SAMPLE PREPARATION: All samples must also be of an appropriate size to fit in the specimen chamber and are generally and are generally mounted rigidly on a specimen stub. Several models of SEM
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can examine any part of a 6-inch (15 cm) semiconductor wafer, and some can tilt an object of that size to 450. The fig I show the sample specimen of the 5% reinforcement composites.

Fig 1: 5% reinforcement composites

Result and Discussion The hardness was conducted on the specimen and it was found that the increases in reinforcement will increases the hardness of the material. The table 1 shows the Rockwell hardness value for the different specimen. Rockwell hardness is conducted on

composite pellets. Composition of greater percentage (i.e. 15% composition) shows the better result. Therefore 15% composition can be selected for fabrication of any automobile component.

Table 1: Hardness

Pellets

Hardness(c scale)

5% 10% 15%
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47 51 53

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