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1 s2.0 S209044791400032X Main
1 s2.0 S209044791400032X Main
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Mechanical Engineering Department, Shoubra Faculty of Engineering, Benha University, Cairo, Egypt
Received 12 June 2013; revised 16 February 2014; accepted 16 March 2014
KEYWORDS
Corrosion;
Al/SiC;
Matrix;
Composites;
NaCl
Abstract Several Al/SiC MMCs having several volume fractions up to 15 vol.% and different SiC
particulates average sizes, typically, 11, 6 and 3 lm were fabricated using conventional powder
metallurgy (PM) route. The effect of the size and volume fraction of SiC particulates on the
microstructural and corrosion behavior of Al/SiC metal matrix composites (MMCs) were studied.
The results revealed that the Al/SiC MMCs exhibited higher density than pure Al matrix. The static
immersion corrosion tests of Al/SiC MMCs in 3.5 wt.% NaCl aqueous solution at several temperatures showed that, at ambient temperature, the Al/SiC MMCs have better corrosion resistance
than the pure Al matrix. Reducing the SiC particles size and/or increasing the volume fraction of
the SiC particulates reduce(s) the corrosion rate of the Al/SiC MMCs. In contrast, the Al/SiC
composites exhibited higher corrosion rates at 50 C and 75 C than the pure Al matrix.
2014 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Ain Shams University.
1. Introduction
Aluminum alloys reinforced with ceramic particulates have
signicant potential for structural applications due to their
high specic strength and stiffness as well as low density [1
3]. These properties have made particle-reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs) an attractive candidate for the use
in weight-sensitive and stiffness-critical components in aerospace, transportation and industrial sectors [4]. Corrosion
behavior is very important parameter for assessing the application potential of composites as structural materials [5].
* Tel.: +20 111 000 7708.
E-mail address: zhossam@hotmail.com.
Peer review under responsibility of Ain Shams University.
2090-4479 2014 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Ain Shams University.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2014.03.003
Please cite this article in press as: Zakaria HM, Microstructural and corrosion behavior of Al/SiC metal matrix composites, Ain Shams Eng J
(2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2014.03.003
H.M. Zakaria
2. Experimental procedures
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Please cite this article in press as: Zakaria HM, Microstructural and corrosion behavior of Al/SiC metal matrix composites, Ain Shams Eng J
(2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2014.03.003
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Figure 2 SEM micrographs of Al/10 wt.% SiC composites reinforced with SiC particulates have size of (a) 11 lm; (b) 6 lm; (c) 3 lm;
and (d) Higher magnication micrograph of (c) showing clearly the SiC particulates.
Please cite this article in press as: Zakaria HM, Microstructural and corrosion behavior of Al/SiC metal matrix composites, Ain Shams Eng J
(2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2014.03.003
H.M. Zakaria
Figure 3 Optical micrographs of Al/SiC composites reinforced with SiC particulates having size of 11 lm and (a) 5 vol.%, (b) 10 vol.%
and (c) 15 vol.% of SiC partculates.
reported that the increase in the volume fraction of SiCp reinforcement in the SiCp/2024 Al composites resulted in a signicant
decrease in pitting potential. Candan [20] studied the effect of SiC
particle size on corrosion behavior of Al60 vol.% SiC particle
composites. Experimental results showed that the weight loss of
the composites increased with increasing particle size and exposure time. The results showed also that intermetallics as a result
of reaction between Al and SiC particle have a benecial effect
on corrosion resistance of the composites due to interruption of
the continuity of the matrix channels within the pressure inltrated composites. Moreover, the weight loss of the composites
in still 3.5 wt.% NaCl solutions increased with increasing particle
size.
Figs. 6 and 7 show typical variation in the corrosion rate of
the Al/SiC composites with the temperature after exposure in
3.5 wt.% NaCl solution for 24 and 120 h. In contract to the results obtained at room temperature, it has been found that the
Al/SiC composites have higher corrosion rates when compared
with the pure Al matrix at elevated temperatures. Increasing
the volume fraction and/or the SiC particles size reduce(s)
the corrosion rates of the Al/SiC composites. The corrosion
rates of the pure Al as well as the Al/SiC composites were
found to increase linearly with the temperature. At xed exposure duration, the Al/SiC composites always exhibited higher
corrosion rates at 75 C than at 50 C.
Fig. 8 shows typical SEM micrographs of the corroded surface for both pure Al matrix and Al/15 vol.% SiC (3 lm)
composites after exposure in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution for
96 h at room temperature. It is clear that severe damage is
found on the surface of the pure Al matrix. Large pits were
Please cite this article in press as: Zakaria HM, Microstructural and corrosion behavior of Al/SiC metal matrix composites, Ain Shams Eng J
(2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2014.03.003
Please cite this article in press as: Zakaria HM, Microstructural and corrosion behavior of Al/SiC metal matrix composites, Ain Shams Eng J
(2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2014.03.003
H.M. Zakaria
Please cite this article in press as: Zakaria HM, Microstructural and corrosion behavior of Al/SiC metal matrix composites, Ain Shams Eng J
(2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2014.03.003
Please cite this article in press as: Zakaria HM, Microstructural and corrosion behavior of Al/SiC metal matrix composites, Ain Shams Eng J
(2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2014.03.003
H.M. Zakaria
3. At elevated temperature, the Al/SiC composites exhibited lower corrosion resistance than the pure Al matrix
in 3.5 wt.% NaCl aqueous solution. However, increasing the volume fraction and/or the SiC particles size
reduce(s) the corrosion rates of the Al/SiC composites.
The corrosion rates of the pure Al as well as the
Al/SiC composites were found to increase linearly with
the temperature.
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Please cite this article in press as: Zakaria HM, Microstructural and corrosion behavior of Al/SiC metal matrix composites, Ain Shams Eng J
(2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2014.03.003