ASSESSMENT OF MECHANICAL AND MICROSTRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF Al-3%Mg/SiCp COMPOSITE
Publication Date : 01/08/2017
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Abstract :
The research was aimed at developing silicon carbide (SiCp) reinforced aluminium-magnesium (Al-Mg) matrix composite with better mechanical and microstructural properties than the conventional marine grade Al-Mg alloy presently used as structures in marine and coastal areas. Stir-casting process was used in developing the test mate-rials with Al-3%Mg alloy having 0% SiCp used as control sample and compared with the performance of the samples containing 5% SiCp, 10% SiCp, 15% SiCp, 20% SiCp and 25% SiCp reinforcements respectively. X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analyses of the materials have shown that the materials contain about 2-3% of Mg and also the reinforcement was found to be well distributed in the matrix without any serious flaws or cracks observed. Highest hardness value of 75.4 HRB was obtained on the sam-ple containing 10% SiCp compared to the control sample with 53.8 HRB. Highest tensile strength of 108 N/mm2 was recorded on sample with 15% SiCp as compared to the control sample with 93.2 N/mm and highest impact en-ergy of 18.98 J was also obtained on the sample with 15% SiCp compared to the value of 9.97J as observed on the control sample. The composite materials developed are found to be of better mechanical properties than the marine grade matrix alloy under test condition.
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