Rabindra Behera, S Kayal, D Chatterjee and G Sutradhar
Keywords: Metal matrix composites (MMCs), casting, solidification, cooling rate, forgeability.
Abstract: The present paper aims to investigate the solidification behavior and the forgeability of Aluminum alloy (LM6)-SiCp composites at different section of three-stepped composite castings. LM6 metal matrix composites (MMCs) containing SiC particles (5 and 10 wt %) of 400mesh (average size) were prepared by using stir casting route. The temperature of the cast composites during solidification was measured by putting K-type thermocouples at the centre of the each step, from which the solidification curves were constructed. The forgeability of the as cast MMCs were also measured at different step of the casting. The results show that the forgeability of cast metal matrix composites at the middle section i.e. step-II of the casting is minimum compared to both end section of a three-step casting. The solidification curves of Aluminum alloy (LM6)-SiCp composites compared with the unreinforced alloy (LM6) and the results reveal that significant increase in solidification time with the addition of SiC particles. The curves also show that the rate cooling and the solidification time are different at different section of the castings. This practical research analysis and test results on solidification behavior and the forgeability of Al/SiCp-MMC will provide useful guidelines to the present day manufacturing engineers.
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