Effect of Glass and SiC in Aluminum matrix on workability and strain hardening behavior of powder metallurgy hybrid composites

In the present investigation, Aluminum hybrid composite has been fabricated by powder metallurgy (P/M) method with a combination of two reinforcements, namely, Glass and Silicon carbide particles. In P/M technique, cold pressing was used for compaction of the reinforced Glass-SiC Aluminum hybrid composites (Al + Glass + SiC). These green compacts were sintered and their workability behaviors were evaluated. In Aluminum-Glass-SIC hybrid composite, the SIC and Glass content was varied from 0% to 16% by weight with four different particle sizes, namely 60, 90, 120 and 150 pm and each one was completely investigated. The experimental results were analyzed for workability under triaxial stress state condition during upsetting as a function of the relative density. The formability stress index (beta) values were obtained for each percentage addition of Glass and SiC. It was found that as the percent content of Glass and SiC increased, the formability stress index parameter also increased. The addition of Glass and SiC in Aluminum matrix affects the strain hardening index (n) of the hybrid composite. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.