Microstructure and Microhardness of Mg/SiC Metal Matrix Composites Developed by Microwave Sintering
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ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION
Microstructure and Microhardness of Mg/SiC Metal Matrix Composites Developed by Microwave Sintering Shivani Gupta1 • Apurbba Kumar Sharma1
Received: 13 April 2020 / Accepted: 11 November 2020 Ó The Institution of Engineers (India) 2020
Abstract Magnesium is one of the lightest metals that are extensively used in automobile, aerospace, and medical industries. Pure magnesium is not suitable for physical applications due to low corrosion resistance. Therefore, various metals and ceramics are added to magnesium to improve its mechanical and physical properties. Consequently, the additives play significant role in the performance of the components. Nowadays, magnesium alloys and its composites are widely used in daily practices owing to their improved properties. In this article, Mg alloy/SiC metal matrix composites were developed through the microwave sintering. The AZ91 alloy was used as the metallic matrix and SiC as the reinforcement with a weight percentage of 5, 10, and 15. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry were used for phase and microstructural studies. Microhardness, density, and porosity were measured. Results revealed that density and microhardness increased with increasing percentage of reinforcement; consequently, the porosity decreased with the addition of SiC percentage. Results from SEM and XRD analysis have also confirmed the formation of phases that can improve the microhardness. Keywords Magnesium alloy AZ91 Silicon carbide Metal matrix composite Microwave sintering
& Shivani Gupta [email protected] 1
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttrakhand, India
Introduction Applications of magnesium alloys are growing in aerospace and automobile industries due to low density, excellent specific stiffness, high strength, good damping characteristics, and unique tendency to machine and cast [1, 2]. The density of the magnesium is approximately 35% lower than aluminum, which makes the enormous potential for various applications in engineering as well as biomedical [3]. Pure magnesium is not compatible with direct use in industrial applications due to high corrosion rate; consequently, its alloys and composites are being developed to overcome its demerits. Presently, the most commonly used magnesium alloy is AZ91, having better corrosion resistance as compared to other alloys [4–6]. In the modern era, composites have become the most exciting domain of research for material scientists, production engineers, and interdisciplinary personnel. This interest is leading to compete and meet the consumer’s requirements. Composites are the combination of two or more than two materials of different properties grouped and represent the combined characteristics. These are divided into three categories: metal matrix, polymer matrix, and ceramic matrix composites [7]. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have been widely recognized due to relatively excellent mechanical properties as compared to the unreinforce
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