Effect of Magnesium Addition on Processing the Al-0.8 Mg-0.7 Si/SiC_p Metal Matrix Composites

Abstract

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) play a vital role in today’s engineering industries. Stir casting is one of the most inexpensive methods for the production of particulate reinforced metal matrix composites. However there are few problems encountered in stir casting such as the problem of poor wettability of the reinforcement particles in the matrix metal. The reinforcement particles have the tendency to either settle at the bottom of the crucible or they tend to float at the top of molten metal. This is due to the greater surface tension of the molten metal. Various techniques are available to improve the wettability of the ceramic particles in metal matrix which includes Particle treatment, Particle coating and Addition of alloying agent. In this work, Magnesium (Mg) was used as the alloying element to improve the wettability of SiC particles in the Al matrix. Mg is used to reduce the surface tension of molten aluminum (Al) thus promoting proper wetting. To understand the effect of Mg on improving the wettability of SiC in aluminum matrix, different weight percentages of SiC particles reinforced aluminum alloy 6061(AA6061) based MMCs were fabricated in stir casting method by adding Mg as alloying element. The cast specimens were subjected to microstructural analysis, tension tests and hardness tests. Results showed that addition of Mg with SiC in AA6061 matrix significantly improved the wetting between Al and SiC; subsequently MMCs possessed enhanced mechanical properties.

Synthesis of Spinel-Hydroxyapatite Composite Utilizing Bovine Bone and Beverage Can

“…The hydroxyapatite composite (SHC) synthesized in this study consists of hydroxyapatite (HAp), aluminum (Al), and magnesium (Mg) as the bio-ceramic matrix, reinforcement, and wetting agent/binder [24][25][26][27][28], respectively. The HAp was extracted from the bovine bones.…”

Tribological Behavior of Al/Nanomagnesium/Aluminum Nitride Composite Synthesized through Liquid Metallurgy Technique

“…Figure 4 displays the steps followed for Taguchi grey relational analysis (TGRA) process. To increase the wettability, magnesium is added in least quan-tity amid stirring [30]. Immediately, melted metal was distributed into a die to get needed sizes.…”

Mechanical behaviour of stir cast TiO2/Redmud/Al6061 metal matrix composites

“…crucible is made of graphite and cylindrical die (250 mm length and 25 mm diameter) is made of high chrome high carbon steel. Once the molten pool attains the uniform temperature of 750 °C the degassing agent Hexachloroethane (0.3% by weight) is added (figure 2(b))[39][40][41][42]. Magnesium chips (1% by weight) (figure2(c)) is added to enhance the wettability of the reinforcements[43].…”