The Effect of ECAP on the Al6061 Matrix and Al-SiCp at Elevated Temperature

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Manufacturing Engineering and production technology, Modern Academy for engineering and technology, Cairo, Egypt.

2 Faculty of Engineering, Ain shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

Abstract: In the present study, stir casting method (SCM) was used to produce metal matrix composites (MMC). Al6061 and silicon carbide particles (F500≈15 μm) were selected as matrix and reinforcement materials respectively. Matrix, Al-5%SiCp and Al-7.5%SiCp were subjected to equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) to 8, 6, and 4 passes, respectively, of a Bc route, at temperature 300ᵒC. Optical microscope was used to determine the SiC particles distribution in the Al matrix of the composites (as-cast and after the ECAP process). Improvement in SiC distribution for Al-5%SiC and Al-7.5%SiC, and agglomeration decreased by 80.5% after 6th pass and 80.2% after 4th pass, respectively. The densities of the composites, as-cast and after the ECAP process, were also measured. The porosity percentage for Al-5%SiC and Al-7.5%SiC has decreased by 63% after 6th pass, and 48.6% after 4th pass, respectively, compared to the as cast samples. Tensile and hardness tests was used to evaluate the mechanical properties of the composites. Results show that, the peak values of ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and hardness are obtained after the 2nd pass. Where, the UTS of Al6061 matrix, Al-5%SiC and Al-7.5%SiC has increased by 51.03%, 49.13%, and 168.4%, respectively, compared to the as cast samples.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics