Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of $SiC_p/Al$ Composites by Pressureless Infiltration Technique

The infiltration behavior of molten Al-alloy, microstructures, hardness, and the interfacial reactions of composites fabricated by the pressureless infiltration technique were investigated. It was made clear that both the weight fraction of SiC reinforcement and additive Mg content considerably influenced on the infiltration behavior of the molten Al-alloy matrix. Complete infiltration of molten Al-alloy achieved under the conditions that weight fraction of SiC content is more than 30wt%, and additive Mg content is more than 9wt%. Interfacial region of Al-alloy matrix and SiC reinforcement phase, was formed by the reaction between Mg and SiC. Another reaction product AlN was also formed by the reaction between Al-alloy matrix and gas atmosphere nitrogen.