Investigation of The Effect of Cr2O3 Particles on Al-Si Matrix Composites Produced by Powder Metallurgy

Abstract

Metal matrix composite materials can be produced by powder metallurgy method. In this study, composite material with Al+12wt%Si matrix was produced by powder metallurgy (P/M) method. Al+12wt%Si powder was mixed by adding 5wt%, 10wt% and 15wt% Cr2O3 powder. Al+12wt%Si + Cr2O3 mixture powders were pressed unidirectional with 500MPa pressure in a cylindrical mold and sintered at 500 ºC. After sintering, optical microstructure, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) and microhardness analyzes of the samples were made. When the results were examined, it was observed that a porous structure was formed in all of the samples. Moreover, the lowest amount of microhardness was measured in the sample added %15wt Cr2O3 powder sintered at 500 ºC.