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ISSN 22499679
Original Article
Fabrication and mechanical properties of aluminium-boron carbide composites
S. Rama Rao *1, G. Padmanabhan2
1
Research scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, S.V.U. College of Engineering,
S. V. University, Tirupathi, India
* Corresponding author. E-mail: rama_rao_s@rediff.com
2
Professor, Department of mechanical Engineering, S.V.U. College of Engineering,
S. V. University, Tirupathi, India
Received 17 July 2012; accepted 09 August 2012
Abstract
With the increasing demand of light-weight materials in the emerging industrial applications, fabrication of aluminiumboron carbide composites is required. In this context aluminium alloy - boron carbide composites were fabricated by liquid
metallurgy techniques with different particulate weight fraction (2.5, 5 and 7.5%). Phase identification was carried out on
boron carbide by X-ray diffraction studies. Microstructure analysis was done with scanning electron microscope. Scanning
electron microscopy images shows that boron carbide particles are uniformly distributed in aluminium matrix. The
composites were characterized by hardness and compression tests. With the increase the amount of the boron carbide, the
density of the composites decreased whereas the hardness is increased. The ultimate compressive strength of the
composites was increased with increase in the weight percentage of the boron carbide in the composites.
2011 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved
Key words: LM6 aluminium alloy, Boron carbide, Stir casting, Mechanical properties.
1. Introduction
Aluminium metal matrix composites(AMMCs) have
considerable applications in aerospace, automotive and
military industries due to their high strength to wear ratio,
stiffness, light weight, good wear resistance and improved
thermal and electrical properties [1-2].
Ceramic
particles such as Al2O3, SiC are the most widely used
materials for reinforcement of aluminium. Boron carbide
(B4C) could be an alternative to SiC and Al2O3 due to its
high hardness (the third hardest material after diamond and
boron nitride). Boron carbide has attractive properties like
high strength, low density (2.52 g/cm3), extremely high
hardness, good wear resistance and good chemical stability
[3]. There has been an increasing interest in composites
containing low density [4-6]. Suggested applications for
Al-B4C composites include their use as structural neutron
absorber, armor plate materials and as a substrate material
for computer hard disks. [7-8]. Lee et al. investigated the
effect of reinforcement type on the tensile properties of the
Al- B4C and Al-SiC composites and observed that the
strength of Al-B4C composite is greater than that of the AlSiC composites [9]. Lashgari et al. investigated the effect
of heat treatment on the microstructure and tensile
properties of Al-B4C composites [10]. They reported that
mechanical properties are improved after heat treatment of
the composites.
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