Paper number 359

MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF AL MATRIX COMPOSITES PRODUCED BY LCCS PROCESS

Kiyoshi Mizuuchi, Takashi Takeuchi, Masao Fukusumi, Masami Sugioka, Hiroshi Nagai and Kanryu Inoue

Osaka Municipal Technical Research Institute, Osaka, 536-8553, Japan.
Materials Science and Processing, Graduate School of Osaka University,
Suita, 565-0871, Japan
Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington,
Seattle, WA, 98195-2120, USA.

Summary

Three kinds of metal matrix composites(MMCs) were produced in situ by Low Pressure Casting/Combustion Synthesis(LCCS) Process. Near-net-shape trialuminide-reinforced composites can be fabricated without cavities. The reaction between Nb powder and molten Aluminum was negligible at the present processing condition. Mechanical properties of Al-matrix composites reinforced by Al3Fe were poor because of the heterogeneous dispersion of reinforcement by coarse Al3Fe. In all composites investigated, good mechanical properties were obtained from Al-matrix composite containing Al3Ti. In this case, it was indicated that wetability between matrix and reinforcement was good. With increasing Al3Ti in MMC, the tensile strength of Al/Al3Ti composites was improved at the expense of their ductility.

Keywords

low pressure casting, vacuum suction, combustion synthesis, metal matrix composite, aluminum, Al3Ti, intermetallic compound.