Study on the fabrication and mechanical property of silicon particle reinforced Zinc-based composites

The silicon particle reinforced Zinc-based composites was fabricated using gravity casting technique with sodium salt as modifier. The microstructure and mechanical properties of silicon particle reinforced Zinc-based composites was studied by the metallurgical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), impact toughness test, flowability test and hardness testing in this work. The results show that the fabrication technique of silicon particle reinforced Zinc-based composites with fine silicon particle distributed uniformly can be obtained; and with the increase of Silicon content in the alloy the hardness of the alloy increases, the impact toughness of the alloy decreases; and with the increase of Silicon content in the alloy the flowability of the high aluminum Zinc based alloys which contains Silicon decreases, and the wear resistance of ZA40-4.5%Si composite is better than that composites in all test conditions.