Aluminium Matrix Particulate Reinforced Composites- A

Research Perspective

Dr. R. SUBRAMANIAN
Associate Professor
Dept. of Metallurgical Engineering
PSG College of Technology
Coimbatore -641004

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 Presentation Scheme
• Introduction
• MMC’s – types, applications
• Particulate Reinforced MMC’s, types , applications
• Choice of matrix
• Reinforcements - single and multiple
• Fabrication of MMC’s- Methods and Choice
• Classification of MMC techniques
• Solid State Techniques
• Liquid State Processing
• Semi-Solid Processing of MMC’s
• Future Directions

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INTRODUCTION

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 INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITE
MATERIALS
• Why Composites?- Rapid advancement in
technology- need for developing new
multifunctional materials with unique
properties.

• This paved way for the emergence of a new

class of engineering materials – composites.

• Research-monolithic materials to composite

materials.

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 COMPOSITE MATERIALS
– Types of composite materials –
Reinforcement ( Particulate, fiber )
Matrix (Ceramic, Polymer and Metal)
– In Al MMCs, metallic alloy (Al)-reinforced with a ceramic
phase(form of particles, short fibres and continuously
aligned fibres).
– Al MMCs- used in wear resistance applications
FABRICATION METHODS
– Liquid state methods- Squeeze casting, Spray deposition
In-situ processing, Liquid infiltration, Stir Casting
– Solid state methods-PowderMetallurgy, Diffusion bonding
– Semi-Solid Casting Processes-
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Compocasting
 Al MMC’s – types, applications
• Choices- Mg- melting difficulties; Ti-
intermetallic
formation
• Aluminium- no such major difficulties
• In addition, light weight ( DENSITY 2.7 g/cc)
• Wide choice of alloys
• Ease of fabrication

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 Advantages of Al MMC’s

• Light Weight
• higher strength, stiffness than the matrix
alloy
• good impact and erosion resistance
• excellent wear resistance
• good fatigue and fracture properties

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 Al MMC’s - Types
AMCs can be classified into three types depending on the type of
reinforcement are
(i) Particle Reinforced AMCs (PRAMCs),
(ii) Short fibre-reinforced AMCs (SFAMCs)
(iii) Long fibre-reinforced AMCs (LFAMCs
• Types- Fiber & whisker reinforced and particulate reinforced
• Properties – anisotropic
• Fiber and whisker reinforced ( SiC, Alumina, carbon, boron, zirconia,
alumino-silicate…)
• Disadvantages- Reinforcements costly as well as difficulties in fabrication
( aligned composites – difficult to process than random fiber oriented
composites)

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Al MMC’s- Applications

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Applications of Al MMC’s

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