Authors : Rand A. Al-Shuraify, Haydar Al-Ethari and Saad H. Al-Shaafaie
Abstract: This study is concerned with the influence of vibration during solidification on the mechanical properties of aluminum-alumina metal matrix composite. The main vibration effects include promotion of nucleation and thus reducing as-cast grain size; reduction of shrinkage porosities due to improved metal feeding and production of a more homogenous metal structure. Mechanical mold vibration was applied to pure aluminum reinforced with 5wt.% Al2O3 particles were prepared by two step stir casting. Mechanical mold vibrations were applied in amplitude and frequency range of 0-1 mm and 8-25 Hz, respectively. Experimental results show that keeping the amplitude constant at 0.5 mm and increasing the frequency give the best results. X-ray diffraction analyses, microstructure, grain size, hardness, porosity and tensile tests had been investigated. It was observed that brinell hardness, tensile strength, modules of elasticity and percentage elongation were improved by 38, 34, 6 and 33%, respectively porosity and grain size reduced by 83 and 43%, respectively as compared to that of stationary prepared sample.
Rand A. Al-Shuraify, Haydar Al-Ethari and Saad H. Al-Shaafaie, 2018. Enhancement Properties of Aluminum-Alumina Composite by Mechanical Mold Vibration. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 13: 2364-2369.