Fracture surface study of the Al-Gr composite homogenized in the liquid produced by SPS

To produce aluminum matrix composite reinforced with graphite particles, mixing of pure aluminum and graphite powders by a new method called homogenization in liquid phase was performed. The graphite content was chosen from zero to 4.5 percent by weight of graphite in this study. Composite samples were produced using the dried powder by two ways: spark plasma sintering (SPS) and cold pressing and thereafter sintering in a vacuum furnace under different pressure, temperature and time. The microstructure was investigated by OM and SEM. The compression test were performed on the samples. Then, surfaces of fracture and the cross-section of samples were investigated using SEM and EDS analysis to illuminate the mechanism that cause increasing the compressive strength of the composite samples produced by this mixing method.