In this present work, we have studied the effects of the amount and size of reinforced zircon sand particles (ZrSiO 4 ) on the cell geometry and wear performance of aluminium alloy (LM13) composite foam. An Al-Si alloy (LM13) as a matrix, zircon sand particles of different sizes as reinforcement, and CaCO 3 as a blowing agent were used to develop the alloy foam and hybrid composite foam. A stir casting process was used to develop alloy foam and its hybrid composite foams. The tribological study of LM13 alloy foam and its composite foam was carried out by using a pin on disc machine under dry sliding conditions at different loads in the range of 9.8-49 N. The results show that a higher amount of zircon sand particles above 5 wt.% with decreasing size leads to a decrement in the size of the cell having thicker cell walls. A comparative tribological study of alloy and its composite foam based on density, cell size, ligament and node size, and foam stability has been presented. An increment in the wear resistance was observed with increasing the amount and also with decreasing the size of reinforced particles.
Lightweight aluminum composite is a class of foam material that finds many applications. These properties make it suitable for many industries, such as the transportation, aerospace and sports industries. In the present work, closed-cell foams of an Al-Si12CuFe alloy and its composite are developed by a stir casting process. The optimization of the foaming temperature for the alloy and composite foams was conducted in terms of the ligament and node size of the alloy and also the volatility of the zircon with the melt, to provide strength to the cell walls. CaCO3 as a blowing agent was homogeneously distributed in the molten metal without adding any thickener to develop the metal foam. The decomposition rate of CaCO3 is temperature-dependent, which is attributed to the formation of gas bubbles in the molten alloy. Cell structure, such as cell size and cell wall thickness, is controlled by manufacturing process parameters, and both the physical and mechanical properties are dependent on the foam cell structure, with cell size being the major variable. The results show that the increase in cell wall thickness with higher temperature leads to a decrease in cell size. By adding the zircon to the melt, the cell size of the composite foam first increases, and then the thickening of the wall occurs as the temperature is increased. The uniform distribution of the blowing agent in molten metal helps in the formation of a uniform cell structure. In this work, a comparative structural study of alloy foam and composite foam is presented regarding cell size, cell shape and foam stability at different temperatures.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.