IN-SITU CASTING OF MAGNESIUM METAL MATRIX COMPOSITE BY MICROWAVE ENERGY

Abstract

Demand of advanced materials to achieve high specific strength in aerospace industry always motivates researchers to develop tailored materials and advanced processing techniques. Conventional processes are mostly unsuitable for development of advanced materials such as composites with desired properties. Thus, non conventional material processing techniques have gained popularity to develop composite materials. In recent time, magnesium matrix composite are being researched for enhanced properties due to its lower weight. In the present work an overview on processing techniques used for development of magnesium matrix composite processed using different techniques was analysed. The merits and demerits of the different process have been compared to understand ease of composite processing through a particular technique. Possibility of a new composite process technique using microwave energy at 2.45 GHz has been explored. The processing method and principles involved in the in-situ microwave composite casting technique are discussed. Subsequently, attention is focussed on the challenges in the proposed method and yield of the process. Opportunities in the area of magnesium metal matrix composite casting using the in-situ casting method have been outlined and future research scopes have been discussed