The Microsructure and Properties of Aluminium Composite Reinforced with 65 μm Alumina Particles via Powder Metallurgy

Abstract

This article will report the effect of weight percentage on the microstructure and properties of alumina particle reinforced aluminum metal matrix composite. This involved fabrication of aluminum composite via powder metallurgy route. Composite samples were prepared based on 5 to 20 wt% of 65 μm Al2O3 reinforcement. The matrix and reinforcement materials were mixed in rotating mixer. The sample were cold pressed at 250 MPa and sintered at 600 0C for 5 hours. This paper will report the microstructure,bulk density and hardness value of the composites. Microstructural analysis was carried out using SEM. SEM micrographs indicate that Al2O3 particulates homogeneously distributed in aluminum matrix. Al-5%Al2O3 gives the lower bulk density and Al-20%Al2O3 gives the highest hardness value (41.93 HV).The density and the hardness value of composite samples increase with the increasing of weight percentage.