Effect of Ultrasonic Vibration on Infiltration of Nickel Porous Preform with Molten Aluminum Alloys

In order to obtain the high-performance composites with high density, the influence of additional ultrasonic vibration on the infiltration of molten aluminum alloy (ASTM A336.0) into nickel porous preform by low-pressure and pressureless casting was investigated. There was no effect of ultrasonic vibration on infiltration distance under pressureless casting because of presence of surface oxide film on the molten alloy, even when the contact angle is reduced by ultrasonic vibration. However, infiltration distance increases upon applying ultrasonic vibration under low pressure. The infiltration distance appears to increase because of the decrease of the contact angle between the reinforcement and molten alloy upon applying ultrasonic vibration, as well as the reducing effect of oxide film on the surface of the molten alloy under low pressure. The improvement of infiltration by applying ultrasonic vibration under low pressure is applicable to the to infiltration of into nickel porous preform.