MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATIONS OF LM6-AL/AL2O3 METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES PRODUCED BY STIR CASTING TECHNIQUE

Abstract

LM6-aluminum alloy based-metal matrix composites (MMC) reinforced with Al₂O₃ ceramic particles were fabricated through stir casting. Al₂O₃ particles with different weight content (5, 10, and 15%) were dispersed into the LM6 Al-Si alloy. The macro and microstructures, mechanical properties, fracture surface, hardness, and impact toughness of the resulted MMCs together with the plain LM6 alloy were evaluated. The results showed that the added 5 wt.% Al₂O₃ was distributed homogenously with good wettability. The addition of Al₂O₃ refined the constituents of the LM6 alloy; Al-Si dendrites and the α-Al grains. At 10 wt.% Al₂O₃, some localized clusters appeared with some granular cracks. Increasing the Al₂O₃ addition to 15 wt.% resulted in particle agglomerations with multiple cracks and porosity. Both the tensile strength and the 0.2 % proof strength of the produced MMCs were improved up to 10 wt.% Al₂O₃ and then reduced. The fracture surface of 5 wt.% MMC was brittle-ductile mixed-mode fracture dominated by brittle fracture. The other percentages were almost brittle fracture. The hardness of the produced MMCs was remarkably improved. The hardness value reaches to about 86 HV at 10 wt. % Al₂O₃ addition. The impact toughness of the resulted composite materials was decreased notably at higher addition of Al₂O₃.