Microstructure and properties of aluminum silicon/short fibre carbon composites fabricated by semi-solid thixomixing

A novel method was developed, based on thixotropic nature of semi-solid slurry of aluminum silicon alloy, for the effective dispersion and distribution of short carbon fibers (Csf) under intensive shear stress (t) into the eutectic without physical or chemical damage. The Csf were distributed homoge...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Akbarzadeh, Ebrahim, Picas Barrachina, Josep Anton|||0000-0002-5750-1063, Baile Puig, Maria Teresa|||0000-0003-1998-8883
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2015
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/81025
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/81025
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2015.09.015
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Composite materials--Testing
Metallic composites--Testing
Carbon fibers--Testing
Carbon fibers
Metal–matrix composites (MMCs)
Fiber/matrix bond
Thixomixing
Fibres de carboni -- Proves
Compostos metàl·lics
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria dels materials::Assaig de materials
Descripción
Sumario:A novel method was developed, based on thixotropic nature of semi-solid slurry of aluminum silicon alloy, for the effective dispersion and distribution of short carbon fibers (Csf) under intensive shear stress (t) into the eutectic without physical or chemical damage. The Csf were distributed homogeneously into the matrix at optimum conditions: a temperature of 576–580 °C, around 48% of solid fraction, and rotation speed of mixing was at 100 rpm. The gas entrapment and porosity was a challenge in the fabrication the aluminum composite by thixomixing, and its size increased when the samples were heat treated. The extruded and heat treated composites had around 24% improvement of mechanical strength as assessed by tensile tests. The predominant deposition of silicon and its intermetallics at the interfacial region improved the wettability and adherence to achieve good mechanical properties. The formation of some intermetallics can be helpful to overcome low wettability effects and their structural evolutions were impressive. The fractography analysis illustrated the ductile fracture with some plastic deformation as the results of dimples and some fiber pull-out in the fractured surface. Ultra-micro hardness evaluation showed good interfacial bonding after heat treatment. The thixomixing process can be developed to produce various composites with different reinforcement.