Study of Aluminum Matrix Metal Composite Reinforced with SiC Particles Fabricated by Powder Metallurgy Method

Authors

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kermanshah University of Technology, Kermanshah, Iran

2 Department of Mechanical Engineering / Kermanshah University of Technology

Abstract

In this study, an aluminum matrix composite reinforced with silicon carbide (SiC) particles was fabricated via the powder metallurgy route, and the effects of three key parameters namely reinforcement content (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 wt.%), compaction pressure (9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 tons), and sintering temperature (470, 500, 550, and 600 °C) on the microstructure and tensile strength were systematically evaluated. The experimental design was established using the Taguchi method. The results revealed that increasing the SiC content up to an optimum level (approximately 1 wt.%) enhanced strength and reduced porosity; however, excessive SiC content (especially 4 wt.%) led to particle agglomeration and stress concentration, which promoted pore growth and significantly deteriorated the mechanical properties. Moreover, raising the sintering temperature within the studied range (from 470 to 600 °C) decreased the number of pores but increased their size, resulting in a higher overall porosity. The optimal combination of processing parameters (1 wt.% SiC, 11 tons compaction pressure, and 600 °C sintering temperature) yielded the best mechanical performance, exhibiting higher tensile strength (approximately 77 MPa) while maintaining acceptable ductility compared with other samples. Microstructural analyses confirmed that precise control of reinforcement fraction, compaction pressure, and sintering temperature is crucial for achieving high densification and a uniform microstructure.

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Journal of Solid and Fluid Mechanics
Volume 16, Issue 4
September and October 2026
Pages 445-453

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