Characterization Of Particulate-Reinforced Aluminium 6061 / Boron Carbide Composites

Aluminum-based metal matrix composite (MMC) materials are used in the design of ground transportation vehicles and aircraft. Compared with conventional, unreinforced alloys, composite materials usually exhibit higher strength, both at ambient and elevated temperatures, as well as good fatigue strength and wear resistance. MMCs could be produced by variety of methods such as Stir cast, Liquid Infiltration, Osprey and Powder metallurgy. Among this, the Powder Metallurgy process is one of the most effective methods for manufacturing Metal matrix composites (MMCs) due to its high volume reinforcement and fairly uniform distribution. The present work deals with the production of Aluminium 6061 alloy powder (20μm) reinforced with B4C particle (20μm). The composites were fabricated by varying the volume % of boron carbide particle (5%, 10% & 15%). The Compacting was performed in Universal Testing machine (UTM) by applying the compacting load of 10000kg and then Sintering was done in Muffle Furnace at 530oC for 1 hour. The mechanical properties such as density, hardness, wear, compressive strength and crushing analysis were done in developed composites.