Aluminium metal matrix composites based on biomorphic silicon carbide

The suitability of Aluminum metal matrix composites (MMCs) based on biomorphic silicon carbide (SiC) as a preform material for light metal infiltration is discussed. The aluminum-infiltrated biomorphic SIC exhibits ductile bending behavior and its fracture behavior underlines the quasi-ductilisation resulting from the metal infiltration into the porous ceramic preform. The four-point bending strength of the resulting biomorphic SiC preform with aluminum is possible without preform deterioration. The four point bending strength of the resulting biomorphic MMCs varies from 80 MPa to 91 MPa, depending on the preform orientation. Wear experiments yield mass loss rates on the order of 0.09 g/h with no significant effect of the original orientation of the wood rays on the wear behavior. It was observed that the inherent structure of the wood template with relatively large pores and a multimodal pore distribution yields a similar distribution of metal in the finished MMC.