The structure and mechanical properties of an aluminium A356 alloy base composite with Al2O3 particle additions

Abstract

Composites-castings with an aluminium A356 alloy base and additions of 1, 2, and 3% (wt.) of Al2O3 reinforcement of 12µm size were made. A side by side investigation of the microstructure and hardness of the composite and the base alloy cast into a steel mould was done. According to hardness values samples of A356 + 3% Al2O3 composite with a particle size of 12µm were selected. These samples were additionally pressed in a special tooling by which tensile test samples were obtained. Application of the compocasting process led to a transformation of a dendritic to a nondendritic structure of the base alloy. The mechanical properties of the composite are improved in relation to the base alloy. .