MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF Al-BASED NANOCOMPOSITE DEVELOPED BY STIR CASTING FOLLOWED BY CRYOFORGING AND CRYOROLLING

Abstract

The worldwide requirement of super materials exhibiting high strength, better mechanical properties, resistance to wear and corrosion has shifted R&D form monolithic to composite materials. This is the case with Al-SiC nanocomposites with finer grain size developing superior mechanical properties and inertness to corrosive environment. With the above mentioned views an attempt has been made to prepare ultrafine grain Al-SiC nanocomposite developed by stir casting followed by cryodeformation. In this study the properties namely hardness, wear and corrosion behavior of the nanocomposite is studied and compared with the monolithic alloy. The cryodeformation of the nanocomposite is done both by cryorolling and cryoforging and a comparison between the properties achieved via these two deformation method is also studied. The result indicate significant improvement in the hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the cryodeformed nanocomposite in comparison to as-cast Al alloy.