Examination of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Powder Metal AA 2014-SiC-B4C Composite / Hybrid Materials

Abstract

In this study, the production, microstructure and mechanical properties of AA 2014 aluminum alloy and B4C-SiC ceramic particle reinforced hybrid metal matrix composite materials were investigated by powder metallurgy. For this purpose, SiC (5-10-15%), B4C (5-10-15%) and B4C-SiC (10%-10%) ceramic particle reinforced composite and hybrid composite materials were produced in different volume ratio on aluminum matrix structure. Matrix and reinforcement powder blends were sintered under argon atmosphere at 600ºC for 1 hour by pressing one-way as block-shaped samples under 700MPa. The produced experiment specimens were characterized in terms of SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), Optical microscope and micro hardness (HV 0. 1) measurements. It was shown that aluminium matrix structure exhibited homogenous distribution depending on the increase in the volume ratio of B4C ve SiC ceramic particles; this was detected with microstructure images. According to the AA 2014 aluminum alloy, the hardness values were found to increase due to the increasing SiC and B4C ceramic particle reinforcement ratio. In B4C-SiC particle reinforced hybrid composite materials, the micro hardness value was relatively reduced compared to the single ceramic phase reinforcement containing B4C 15% ve %15 SiC.

Keywords

• Powder metallurgy
• Aluminum
• Hybrid composite
• Microstructure
• Hardness