DEVELOPMENT OF A HARDNESS MODEL FOR MMCS (AL/AL2O3)

Computerized manufacturing data systems are essential for the selection of optimum parameters during the fabrication of metal matrix composites. This paper presents a study of the development of a hardness model for an aluminium matrix composite (Al/Al2O3) made by the powder metallurgy route. The mathematical prediction models for the hardness have been developed in terms of sintering temperature, sintering time and volume fraction of reinforcement. The effect of these manufacturing parameters on the hardness has been investigated using design of experiments and response surface methodology. Response surface contours were constructed by computer, giving the response in terms of sintering temperature, time and volume fraction of reinforcement.