The effect of SiC content on microstructural and tribological properties of sintered B₄C and SiC reinforced Al–Cu–Mg–Si matrix hybrid composites

Abstract

Abstract In this study, B 4 C and SiC hybrid reinforced Al–Cu–Mg–Si alloy Matrix composites were fabricated using a microwave sintering technique at a sintering temperature of 550 °C for 60 min. In the produced hybrid composites, while the B 4 C ratio was kept constant (3 wt%), SiC was used in four different amounts (3, 6, 9, and 12 wt%). In these produced hybrid composites, as a result of microwave sintering, thanks to the high microwave absorption of SiC, the porosities closed at a rate of 36.65–40.90%. In 3, 6, 9, and 12 wt% SiC reinforced composites, the microhardness of 100.1, 106.8, 114.4, and 117.2 HV 0.05 were achieved, respectively. Due to agglomeration increasing with SiC reinforcement rate, delamination wears increased in 12 wt% SiC reinforced hybrid composite. As a result, the lowest specific wear rate was measured as 0.3374 × 10 −3 mm 3 ·(Nm) −1 in the 3 wt% B 4 C+9 wt% SiC reinforced sample.