A Critical Review of Fabrication Techniques and Possible Interfacial Reactions of Silicon Carbide Reinforced Aluminium Metal Matrix Composites

Abstract

In this review article, the current status of and recent developments in fabrication techniques for all types of Silicon Carbide reinforced Aluminium Metal Matrix Composites (SiC-AMMCs) have been elaborately discussed. The comparative studies on fabrication methods have also been reported in this article. Furthermore, the possible interfacial reactions between aluminium and silicon carbide that have been presented by researchers were also explored and their causes and remedies have been discussed. The entire discussion in this review article reveals that liquid fabrication processes (especially stir casting) are used effectively for mass production, intricate shapes, a variety of products, nano-composites, etc. The solid-state processes are performed below the melting temperature of matrices, resulting in the least possible interfacial reactions leading to unwanted compounds’ formation. The literature on interfacial reactions reveals that the Al4C3 compound is mostly formed as a result of the reactions between aluminium and silicon carbide and exhibits a deleterious effect on the composite properties.