EFFECTS OF COOLING RATE AND SILICON CONTENT ON AL/SICp MMC

Summary, in English

This paper reports the results of the study ofthe microstructural and mechanical properties ofmetal matrix composites (MMC) based on Al-Si matrix alloyandsilicon carbideparticulates. The scope of the studyis to investigate the effects of cooling rate and silicon content on the microstructure and the mechanical propertiesof MMC.Samples were cast in mouldsof different temperature in order to identifythe effects of the cooling rate while silicon content was varied from 7 to 12.5 %in the matrix material.The conclusion is that the cooling rate has little effect on the properties unless it is taken to the extreme and the effects of the silicon content is no more pronounced than for non-reinforced aluminium.