STUDIES ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF Al - BASED CAST COMPOSITES

The economy is very important feature nowadays in the market. The researches are playing an important role in engineering field to increase the life of machine parts / components and decrease the cost. The composite materials have the potential to replace widely used steel and aluminium due to their good characteristics with better performance. The Al-based composites have found extensive applications in automobile industries and aerospace industries due to their increased stiffness, strength, thermal conductivity and wear resistance properties. A number of particulate phases have been employed in the Al-alloy matrix. The cast aluminiumceramic particulate composites are finding applications in pistons, connecting rods, cylinder liner, engine cylinder block, electrical contacts etc.The present investigation is based on study of the effect of particulate phase on the SEM study, micro-hardness, elastic modulus, tensile strength and the wear behaviour of Al-5 % SiC-7 % Fe, Al-10 % SiC-6 % Fe and Al-15 % SiC-5 % Fe composites.