Fabrication of Al–SiC–B4C metal matrix composite by powder metallurgy technique and evaluating mechanical properties

Abstract

The applications of metal matrix composites are increasing day by day due to high strength to weight ratio. In the present work Al–SiC–B4C metal matrix composite is prepared from sintering of mechanically alloyed powder (ball milling) in powder metallurgy processes. Three different combinations of compositions in volume fraction were chosen namely 90%Al 8%SiC 2%B4C, 90%Al 5%SiC 5%B4C and 90%Al 3%SiC 7%B4C. An attempt has been made to study the characteristics of developed metal matrix composite. As increase in percentage of B4C the micro hardness of the metal matrix composite has increased significantly. The microstructure of the prepared metal matrix composite reveals the uniform distribution of particles in metal matrix.