EFFECT OF T6 HEAT TREATMENT ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CERAMIC REINFORCED CASTED ALUMINUM ALLOY

Aluminium base alloy (Al-Cu-Si) was reinforced with silicon carbide (SiC) particles, in various percentage compositions from 0-20 wt%. Silicon carbide particle size of 20?m was selected. The molten slurry of SiC reinforced base aluminium metal was casted through green and dry sand casting methods and solidification process was carried out under ambient conditions. A selected population of total casted samples were subjected to T6 heat treatment process, followed by evaluation of mechanical properties of hardness, tensile strength and impact loading. The micro sized SiC particles were preheated up to 300 °C prior pouring into the melted metal, for subsequent removal of residual gases and moisture content. A continuous manual stirring method was used for homogenous distribution of reinforced particle in molten slurry. The experimental results revealed that the highest parameters of hardness, impact energy and tensile strength were achieved in the T6 heat treated specimens; having highest percentage composition (20%) of Silicon Carbide (SiC) particles.