Sic-Whiskers Reinforced Alumina

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

Composites materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or microscopic scale within the finished structure. Composite are materials in which two phases are combined, usually with strong interfaces between them. They usually consist of a continuous phase called the matrix and discontinuous phase in the form of fibers, whiskers or particles called the reinforcement. A metal matrix composite (MMC) is composite material with at least two constituent parts, one being a metal. The other material may be a different metal or another material, such as a ceramic or organic compound.[1]

Aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of the chemical element. It known and remarkable as for its low density and resist corrosion but the low melting point and low strength always be a problem[2]. To solve the problem, reinforcement with elements such as silicon carbide .Silicon carbide is a compound of silicon and carbon with strong bonds in lattice. This produce very hard and strong material. The properties of silicon carbide are low density, high strength, low thermal expansion, high strength and high elastic modulus. The addition of silicon carbide particle improves the mechanical properties of aluminum.

There are many benefits silicon carbide particle reinforcement with aluminum matrix composite such as:

* High strength & stiffness

* Improve wear resistance

* Low density

* High thermal conductivity

* Cost effective production[3]

To fabricate the aluminum-silicon carbide specimens, we used the powder metallurgy process(PM).The powder metallurgy main process is :

Figure 1.1 : Flow Chart of...