Abstract

---

Aluminium Matrix Composites (AMC) are combinations of aluminium alloy and other components usually non metal and commonly ceramic such as silicon carbide (SiC) and aluminium oxides (Al2O3) in order to improve the engineering properties of the aluminium alloy. This research work examined the mechanical and microstructural properties of Al-SiC auto brake disc rotor composite. Aluminium ingots were first heated in the furnace at a tem perature of 720oC to molten state and SiC particles having average size of 25 µm preheated to 840oC for about two hours were added as reinforcement (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of SiC). The mixture was then stirred for 10 minutes at 850 rpm to ensure homogenous distribution of Composite Metal Particles (CMP) prior to pouring into the preheated metallic mould at 940oC. A control sample without SiC additions was also produced. The produced samples were shaped into standard samples for the purpose of hardness, impact, tensile, compression properties determination and wear. The morphology examination and elemental composition analysis of phases present in the produced composite samples were carried out using scanning electron microscope, with the attached energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Auto brake disc rotor was produced with standard dimension. The mechanical properties showed improvement in terms of hardness, impact toughness, compressive stress, decrease in yield stress and wear rate, it was observed that there is an increase in the Charpy impact strength of the reinforced AMC when compared with unreinforced Al. The highest impact strength was recorded at 15 wt. % reinforcement. This obviously translate that, with the presence of SiC the impact strength of the composite was improved. The Scan ning Electron Microscope (SEM) results revealed the phases present in the composite while the Energy Dispersive X-ray indicated the elemental composition of the composite.

Keywords: Aluminium matrix composite; Mechanical property; SEM, EDX, Silicon Carbide