CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 INTRODUCTION

In this chapter, the results of extensive search of published papers available and

which are relevant to the objectives of this work can be conveniently categorized

under the following topics:

 Stir-casting studies on aluminium metal matrix composites

 Comparison of reinforcements SiC, Al2O3 and TiB2in Al matrix

 Difference between in-situ and ex-situ processing

 Mechanical properties enhancement studies

 Finite Element method studies

 Microstructure evolution studies

 General reviews

2.2 A BRIEF LITERATURE SURVEY ON STIR-CASTING BASED STUDIES

ON ALUMINIUM METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES

Naher et al. (2004) produced Al-SiC composites using the liquid and semi-solid stir-

casting methods. A significant part of the work consists of the design, construction

and validation of a specialized quick-quench compo-caster for this high temperature

processing method. Stainless steel was chosen as the main crucible and stirrer

material. The machine consisted of a four 45 flat-bladed stirrer and a crucible in a

resistance heated furnace chamber. A linear actuator was integrated to the rig to

allow the crucible to be quickly extracted from the furnace for quenching.

Stirring speed ranging from 200 to 500 rpm and different shear periods were

investigated. Ten percentage volumes of 30 µm sized SiC particles were used. The

main research challenge was to obtain a uniform distribution of SiC in the aluminium

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matrix. In the compo casting experiments, it was found that the uniformity of SiC

particles in the aluminium matrix were dependent on shear rate, shear period, cooling

rate and volume fraction of primary solid. The quick quench compo caster system

was successful in producing cast MMC samples. The use of clean heat-treated SiC

particles and the quick quench method was sufficient to produce homogeneous

composites. Castings from the liquidus condition were found to result in poor

incorporation of SiC particles whereas castings from the semi-solid condition were

found to produce a uniform distribution of SiC particles. However, quicker

solidification, after cesation of mixing, was found to improve the uniformity of the

SiC distribution significantly. Characterization of the MMC samples produced

included microstructure recording and image analysis thereof. The matrix phase size,

morphology and distribution of SiC particles throughout the stir castings were

examined.

Rajan et al. (2007) studied the effect of three different stir casting routes on the

structure and properties of fine fly ash particles reinforced Al-7Si-0.35Mg alloy

composite. Among liquid metal stir casting, compo-casting (semi-solid processing)

and modified compo- casting followed by squeeze casting routes evaluated, the latter

has resulted in well-dispersed and relatively agglomerate and porosity-free fly ash

particle-dispersed composites. Interfacial reactions between the fly ash particle and

the matrix leading to the formation of MgAl2O4 spinel and iron inter-metallics are

more in liquid metal stir-cast composites than in compo-cast composites.

The study reported by Reddy et al. (2009) described an effort at enhancing the wear

properties of hypereutectic cast aluminium-silicon alloys, which was produced using

semi-solid-metal (SSM) processing technique. The approach involved the use of

rheological experiments on SSM slurries, performed under continuous cooling

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condition from liquidus temperature. The study involved the use of pin-on-flat wear

system to understand the wear features of the alloy under investigation tested over a

range of normal load (10 - 40 N) at constant average sliding speed (0.2 m/s) against

cast iron and stainless steel counter surface. The finding of their research indicated

that stir-casting caused refinement of primary silicon particles and modification of

eutectic silicon compared to conventional cast alloy.

Alaneme & Aluko (2012) studied two stir-casting processing parameters in

accordance with Charge calculations and followed standard procedures to estimate

the amount of the Al (6063) scrap billets and silicon carbide required to produce 3, 6,

9 and 12 vol.% SiC reinforcements in the composite. They reported that the borax

which serves as a wetting agent was dehydrated by heating at 250 °C for 20 minutes

after which it was mixed with specified amounts of SiC in a ratio of 1:2. They hinted

that the Al (6063) billets were charged into the furnace and melting was allowed to

progress until a uniform temperature of 750°C (which is above the liquidus

temperature) was attained. The melt was then allowed to cool to 600°C (slightly

below the liquidus temperature) to a semi-solid state. They pointed out that at this

stage, the silicon carbide and dehydrated borax mixture was added into the melt and

manual stirring of the slurry was performed for 20 minutes. An external temperature

probe was utilized in all cases to monitor the melt temperature. After manual stirring,

the composite slurry was reheated and maintained at a temperature of 750°C ± 10°C

(above the liquidus temperature) and then mechanical stirring was performed. The

stirring operation was performed for 20 minutes at an average stirring rate of 300

rpm. Casting was then performed on prepared sand moulds at a pouring temperature

of 720°C.

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Recently, Gopalakrishnan & Murugan (2012) attributed the primary attraction of

practitioners and researchers to Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) to improved

specific strength, high temperature and wear resistance application. Aluminium

matrix reinforced with titanium carbide (Al/TiCp) was reported by the authors to

have a good potential. In composite fabrication, the main challenge, as noted by the

authors is to produce this composite in a cost effective way to meet the above

requirements. In the study, Al/TiCp castings with different volume fraction of TiC

were produced in an argon atmosphere by an enhanced stir-casting method. The

specific strength of the composite has increased with higher % of TiC addition. Dry

sliding wear behaviour of AMC was analyzed with the help of a pin-on-disc wear

and friction monitor. The presented analyses revealed the improved specific strength

as well as wear resistance.

El-Sabbagh et al. (2012) studied the Rolling of wrought aluminium matrix

composites with hard phase-reinforcements such as SiC, which are being used to

produce sheets for engineering constructions due to their light-weight combined with

good-strength and wear resistance. In this work, the hot rolling behaviour of stir-cast

composites having the matrices as Al 6061 and Al 6082 alloys and fine SiCp

particulates with size of 15 μm and 8 μm and volume fraction up to 30% was studied.

It was reported that for composite casting, optimum casting procedures and materials

pretreatment was carried out for successful insertion of particles into the melt, better

particles/matrix wetting and distribution of particles as well for minimized SiC/Al

reaction. From thermo-mechanical simulation, step rolling was defined to be suitable

at a strain rate of 1 s - 1 rate for each step, using intermediate heat treatment at 450°C

for a period of 10 seconds to 1 hour. Generally, the quality of rolled product

improved with improvement in the casting quality. Successive hot rolling resulted in

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decreasing voids and the agglomeration clusters and hence, enhanced mechanical

properties were achieved. The flow behaviour under rolling of Al-particulate metal

matrix composites, PMMCs, was analyzed and characterized.

2.3 COMPARISON OF REINFORCEMENTS SiC, Al2O3 AND TiB2 IN Al

MATRIX
2.3.1 Al/SiC

Haizhi Ye (2003) discussed Al-Si binary alloy system and established that silicon

reduces the thermal expansion coefficient. Al-Si alloys usually have casting defects

such as porosity and inclusion, which can greatly degrade the mechanical properties

of the materials. Porosity cannot sustain external load and thus can lead to micro

crack initiation and propagation.

Ortega-Celaya et al. (2007) concluded that Al/SiCp MMCs have significant problems

such as insufficient wetting of SiC substrate by molten aluminium which resulted

from the formation of oxide layer on the surface of Al melt. Undesirable reactions at

the Al/SiC interface are also experienced. It is difficult to avoid the formation of

unwanted phases at the interface such as Al4C3 and Al3SiC4.

2.3.2 Al/TiB2

In this in-situ reactive casting technique, the reinforcement phase i.e., TiB2 forms via

chemical reaction and subsequently disperse in the molten alloy. Al-TiB2 composite

is particularly adaptable to in-situ synthesizing (Tee et al. 1999). Reaction between

Ti and B is highly exothermic in nature and the heat generated helps to accelerate the

formation of TiB2 readily. In addition TiB2 is particularly suitable to serve as a

reinforcing phase for Al-based composites because of its thermodynamic stability in

aluminium.

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Zhang et al. (2001) reported that the in-situ formed reinforcement in the melt is free

of surface oxide and present in fine condition. The selection of TiB2 as the alternative

reinforcement is because of its thermodynamic compatibility. The coefficient of

thermal expansion is (8.6 X 10-6 °C-1). The synthesized TiB2 is in block shape and the

average size was about 1 µm.

Tjong et al. (2005) used aluminium, TiO2 and B2O3 powders as starting materials. Al

with in-situ formed TiB2 and Al2O3 submicron particles was fabricated. The TiB2 and

Al2O3 particles of 0.3-1.2 µm, was distributed uniformly in the aluminium matrices

of composites. Particle sizes of several micrometers would act as stress concentrators

whereas submicron particles of TiB2 and Al2O3 exhibit high yield strength.

Hongzhan Yi et al. (2006) explained the method of reaction processing used to obtain

the in-situ formed TiB2 particle reinforced Al-Si alloy composites. The matrix alloy

used in this study was Al and the reactive salts used were K2TiF6 and KBF4. After the

casting specimens were made, X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out which

confirms the presence of TiB2 in the cast. The TiB2 particles synthesized in-situ in

the matrix is cubic and spherical in form, with sizes ranging from 0.2 to 0.8 µm with

an average size of approximate 0.5 µm, which is one to two orders of magnitude

lower than that of ex-situ particles used in composites. It can also be seen that the

interface between TiB2 particles and aluminium matrix is clean.

Christy et al. (2010) compared the mechanical properties and microstructure of as

cast Al 6061 alloy with 12% by weight TiB2 and describe that aluminium containing

TiB2 as the dispersed second phase particles on solidification lead to interactions

which takes place between advancing solidification front and the particles. Such

interactions affect the front morphology and the particle solidification as well. The

solidification front pushes or engulfs the particles. Due to this reason the particles

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can be found at the grain boundaries, the inter dentritic regions, and within the

primary grains themselves. The discontinuous TiB2 reinforcement phase, non-

uniform in size and irregularly shaped are dispersed throughout the aluminium alloy

matrix.

2.4 EX-SITU Vs IN-SITU PROCESS

Cup et al. (2000) studied the in-situ synthesis of metal matrix composites having the

advantages of a “natural” grown interface, free of impurities, which eliminates the

reinforcement treatment stages and plays an important role in the enhancement of the

mechanical resistance of the material.

Tee et al. (2001) formed in-situ, ceramic reinforcing particles from the chemical

reactions or from the exothermic reactions between the elemental powders of

composites. In-situ ceramic particulates are thermodynamically stable, free of surface

contamination and disperse more uniformly within the matrices of MMCs, leading to

stronger particle matrix bonding. Such unique properties make in-situ MMCs possess

excellent mechanical properties and economically viable than ex-situ counterparts.

Varma et al. (2001) explain the ex-situ MMCs are still not economically favorable

due to the high cost of reinforcing particles. Moreover, ex-situ ceramic particulates

generally have a size ranging from a few microns to several hundred microns. Large

ceramic particulates often act as micro concentrators of stress and give rise to particle

fracture during mechanical loading.

Mandal et al. (2004) identified the difficulties involved in the ex-situ Particulate

Metal Matrix Composites such as poor wettability, in homogeneous distribution of

reinforcement particles, formation of unwanted reaction products at the interface

between the matrix and reinforcement, etc., which have led to the development of

new generation in-situ composites.

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Ceschini et al. (2009) had shown in-situ composites overcome some of the following

limitations of ex-situ composites: the wettability of the particles with matrix is

somewhat limited and the particle size is much coarser with non-uniform

distribution. These features would lead to fragmentation of the particles and de-

cohesion of the reinforcement particles from the matrix during deformation.

2.5 INVESTIGATION ON THE ENHANCEMENT OF MECHANICAL

PROPERTIES

Jiang et al. (2006) locally fabricated the steel matrix composites reinforced with in-

situ TiB2-TiC particulates by utilizing the self-propagating high-temperature

synthesis (SHS) reaction of Al-Ti-B4C system during casting. Microstructure

characterization of the composites reveals that the microstructure was made up of

two types of TiB2 and TiC particulates concerning particulate size and distribution

and white Fe-rich regions. Moreover, the results show that the hardness and wear

resistance of the composites are higher than those of the steel matrix.

Montoya Davila et al. (2007) observed the effect of particle size and distribution on

the superficial hardness of Al/SiCp composites prepared by pressure less infiltration,

as well as on the micro hardness and fracture toughness (KIC) of particulate silicon

carbide (SiCp). Preforms with 0.6 bimodal and trimodal distribution were infiltrated

with the alloy Al-15.52 Mg-13.62 Si (wt.%) in argon followed by nitrogen at 1100

°C for 60 min. Results show that density behaves linearly with increase in particle-

size distribution whilst superficial hardness, micro hardness and fracture toughness

exhibit all a parabolic behavior. Superficial hardness behavior was explained by the

combined effect of work-hardening in the alloy matrix and particle-to-particle

impingement. Due to the highly covalent nature of SiC, the parabolic response shown

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by microhardness and KIC could be attributed to a dislocation mechanism as in

strain-hardening.

Yu et al. (2008) investigated on alumina reinforced Al-Cu alloy matrix composite

prepared by reaction sintering of Al and CuO powders. Precipitation hardening by

further aging the composite at 250°C was studied. In-situ formed micron-sized

alumina particles were present in the Al (Cu) matrix of the un-aged composite, while

additional nanometer-sized Al2Cu rods were obtained in the matrix of the aged

composite. Both hardness and bending strength were enhanced after the composite

was aged. In the bending test, the sample was plastically deformed before fracture.

Micro-structural analysis revealed that the size of dimples found in the fracture

mouth of the un-aged composite was micron-sized, and that in the aged composite

was much smaller. It was evident that when the composite was subjected to stress,

micron-sized alumina particles were responsible for the formation of cracks in the

un-aged sample, while in the aged sample, Al2Cu nano rods were the dominant

nucleation sites for crack growth.

Hajjari & Divandari (2008) worked on 2024 aluminium alloy, conventionally used

for wrought products. The author stated that if this alloy was subjected to cast

process, a large number of shrinkage porosities will be produced within its

microstructure due to its long solidification range. Therefore, in order to see the

effect of pressure on the microstructure and reduction of shrinkage-porosities of this

type of alloy, the effect of squeeze pressure on the microstructure and tensile

properties of the alloy was investigated in this research. The results showed that

squeeze casting caused the refinement of the microstructure and reduction in the

DAS of the cast structure possibly due to increasing the cooling rate. Increasing the

squeeze pressure also led to formation of finer microstructure. Furthermore, higher

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pressures decreased the percentage of porosity and increased the density of the cast

alloy. The ultimate tensile strengths of the squeezed cast samples improved when the

squeeze pressure increased in a drive to produce composites of improved properties,

Wahab et al. (2009) carried out the preparation and characterization of aluminium

Metal Matrix Composites reinforced with aluminium nitride. A graphite crucible and

a stainless steel permanent mold were used to prepare the samples. An optimum

stirring speed was determined for a fixed stirring time before cast in the permanent

mold. Morphology of the composite and particle distribution were investigated by

optical microscopy. An interesting observation was that the reinforcing particles were

clearly shown at the edges and around grains of silicon primary, silicon needles and

inter-metallic compound of FeMg3Si6Al8. It was further noted that the result of

hardness test was 44 Hv for Al-Si matrix and increased to 89 Hv for an Al-Si

composite reinforced with 5% wt. % AlN powder. The higher values in hardness

indicated that the AlN particles contributed to the increase of hardness of the matrix.

Tan & Mohamad (2009) presented an experimental study on precipitation of

aluminium alloy 6061-T6 to determine the effect of artificial ageing on the hardness

of aluminium alloy 6061-T6.

The precipitation hardening is a thermal treatment, which consists of a heat

treatment, quenching and artificial ageing process. The experimental study is focused

on artificial ageing carried between 175°C to 420°C at different time periods. The

Vickers hardness test is to evaluate the hardness of aluminium alloy 6061-T6 before

and after ageing process. The optimum ageing time and temperature is determined at

the end of this experiment to obtain reduction in energy and total cost. The study

leads to the conclusion that the optimum aged was achieved between 175°C to 195°C

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with 2 to 6 hours of ageing time. The contribution of short time ageing is comparable

to that of longer ageing time from previous studies.

Bai& Zhao (2010) studied the contribution, and the effect of the micro-structural

characteristics on tensile properties and fracture behavior of partial-squeeze addition

to slow shot die-cast A356 alloy die casting in the as-cast and T6 heat-treated

conditions. The results show that inferior tensile properties of the casting partially-

squeezed part were caused by the Al cells with fragment, rosette, angular and

globular shapes, while finer dendrites with smaller secondary dendrite arm spacing

and more rounded silicon particles corresponded to higher tensile properties. After

T6 treatment, tensile properties increased significantly due to the spheroidization of

silicon particle and consequently the reduction of stress concentration at

silicon/eutectic matrix interface. Differences observed in the tensile fracture path

were attributed to micro structural changes as well as morphological aspects of

silicon phase.

Adeosun et al. (2011) established the processes that were utilized to improve the

tensile strength and hardness of aluminium alloys, some of which include elemental

and particle additions, since work hardening cannot be used to improve strength and

hardness of 1xxx wrought aluminium alloys. This work examined the possibility of

introducing secondary processing of transverse rolling after the initial primary rolling

to strengthen and hardened wrought aluminium alloy. The effects of transverse and

longitudinal rolling on the tensile strength and hardness of AA1230 aluminium alloy

worked at ambient temperature (32 °C) have been studied. Samples were rolled in

longitudinal and transverse directions from thickness of 1.55 mm to 0.45 mm in 3-7

passes in two-high irreversible mill. The samples rolled in transverse direction have

hardness and tensile strength which are superior to samples rolled in the longitudinal

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direction. The resultant crystals in transverse directions were elongated in the rolling

direction and agglomerate into larger crystals in this direction.

Raman & Mishra (2012) modified the mechanical properties of Al based alloy by

varying the amounts of different constituents in Al alloy. The process through sand

casting and ferrous casting is done on different Al based alloys [Al-6Si-4Cu, Al-

10Si-5Cu, Al-14Si-6Cu], and the research investigated how the mechanical

properties of Al alloys improved by varying amount of each constituent and also by

different types of casting. Each Al-based alloy out of two is cast by different

processes (sand casting and ferrous casting) and selected one-by-one from each phase

of comparison of properties among related casting. After selecting three different Al

alloys composition from different casting processes, researcher further evaluated the

properties of each Al-alloy by comparing them with each other.

Guo et al. (2012) investigated the laser welding of AA1100-16 vol.% B4C metal-

matrix composites. It was found that most B4C particles were decomposed and that

needle-like AlB2 and Al3BC phases were substantially formed during the welding

process without filler. Consequently, a joint efficiency of 63% was obtained. They

pointed out that the addition of Ti with 150 μm thick foil increased the joint

efficiency to 75% due to the decrease of needle-like phase formations. On the other

hand, the addition of Ti with filler wire did not show significant tensile property

improvement due to the Ti segregation and microstructure in homogeneity in the

weld zone. The fracture surfaces of laser welded joints were investigated to

understand the fracture mechanisms.

2.6 FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS STUDIES

Beffel et al. (1986) make use of a typical, state of the art finite element application to

examine the investment casting processes and their work reveals the extent of
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information available from a typical FEM-based solidification simulator. It also

reveals a need for significant computing time.

Kannan et al. (1990) acknowledged that the present thrust of solidification modelling

research lays in the enhancement of heat transfer and fluid flow techniques towards

the goal of solving micro structural modelling problems. The current state of the art,

which takes the form of 3D finite element and finite difference codes, fully coupled

with a computational fluid dynamics simulation. Ghosh et al. (1994) explained that

since to a large extent leftover the unidentified about the process of nucleation in

these materials, some level of ambiguity exists in their model. Brown and Spittle et

al. (1989) spot out that while finite element and finite difference analysis methods

can offer commanding solutions to solidification problems, they should have a

physical model of the solidification process upon which to support their analysis.

Ismar, H. et al. (2000) described FEM is one of the most powerful available tool to

the mechanical engineers in general, manufacturers in particular. FEM codes are used

to solve range of problems in various field viz., civil engineering, fluid dynamics etc.

These codes can be incorporated in the deformation of MMCs at both macro and

micro scale.

Guo, Y.M. et al. (2001) has reported modeling task involves sketching the cross

section of billet and developing a parametric modeling using package such as PRO/E,

CATIA, UNIGRAPHIX etc followed by 24 analysis packages. In analysis the model

can be re-meshed to attain required accuracy of results by generating nodes. Better

understanding is visualized through FEM to know how processing conditions affect

the final microstructure of billet.

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2.6.1 ProCAST Software

Campbell et al. (2004) reported that ProCAST is a three dimensional solidification

and fluid flow package developed to perform numerical simulation of molten metal

flow and solidification phenomena in various casting processes, primarily die casting

(gravity, low pressure and high pressure die casting) and sand casting. It is

particularly helpful for foundry applications to visualize and predict the casting

results so as to provide guidelines for improving product as well as mold design in

order to achieve the desired casting qualities.

Hu-Hong jun et al. (2006) described ProCAST extensively to create sand casting and

die casting models for the simulation of molten metal flow (mold filling) and

solidification (crystallization in the process of cooling). The cast and mold design of

the experiment is transformed into a 3D model and imported into ProCAST to

conduct the sand casting process simulation. Sand casting is the casting process that

has the longest history

Mintuan et al. (2006) reported that with the help of ProCAST system, casting

engineers have the capability of simulation analysis and prediction of quality of

castings with respect to flow field, temperature field and stress field in the formation

process before completing the preparation, optimization the casting equipment

parameters and process scheme.

Viswanathan et al. (2007) described the extended utility of ProCAST software for

avoiding shrinkage, improving cast metal yield, optimizing the gating system,

optimizing mold filling, and finding the thermal stresses, as means to maintain the

casting quality. Moreira Jose et al. (2004) reported that successful solidification

modeling of steel sand castings using ProCAST which resulted reducing the

production costs and increasing of profits by improving yield.

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Hu Hong-jun et al. (2008) researched the influence of casting process on quality of

casting using ProCAST. They reported significant improvement in casting yield by

optimizing the pouring and riser system.

2.7 MICROSTRUCTURE STUDIES

Zoqui et al. (2002) did significant research on as rheocast A356 structure aluminium

for heat-treatment at 580 °C. In this paper, they reported the higher the holding time,

the higher the grain and globule size produced. There is a relationship between grain

and globule size for those structures and this relationship is affected by heat-

treatment.

E.J. Zoqui et al. (2004) studied the effect of macrostructure and microstructure of the

A356 alloy in the semi-solid state and they reported that increasing the holding time,

increases the globularisation of the structure, and the RQI reflected this change on

the morphology very well. The best globularisation achieved was for long periods of

time, and they concluded 600 s for all raw materials tested, but the best thixo forming

behaviour, i.e., the lowest viscosity was achieved for shorter periods of time (around

210 s). Short periods of time were enough to produce suitable raw material for the

thixo-forming process. Long periods of time led to a grain coalescence that

diminished the final viscosity.

J. Wang et al. (2010) reported about the Microstructural evolution of AlSi7Mg alloys

by electromagnetic stirring in superheated condition and they concluded Lowering

the pouring temperature is one of the most effective ways to promote the formation

of more equiaxed structure, however, superheated + EMS promotes this formation to

an even greater extent and consequently the globular structure is apparent at the

pouring temperature of 630 °C. The formation of the globular structure could

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encourage the utilization of the superheated + EMS in the preparation of SSM slurry

for rheoforming.

2.8 GENERAL REVIEWS

Surappa (2003) studied Aluminium Matrix Composites (AMCs) referred to the class

of light weight high-performance aluminium centric material systems. The

reinforcement in AMCs could be in the form of continuous/discontinuous fibres,

whisker or particulates, in volume fractions ranging from a few percent to 70%.

Properties of AMCs can be tailored to the demands of different industrial

applications by suitable combinations of matrix, reinforcement and processing route.

Presently several grades of AMCs are manufactured by different routes. Further, they

noted that three decades of intensive research had provided a wealth of new scientific

knowledge on the intrinsic and extrinsic effects of ceramic reinforcement vis-a-vis

physical, mechanical, thermo-mechanical and tribological properties of AMCs. In

addition, they stated that AMCs had been utilised in high-tech structural and

functional applications including aerospace, defence, automotive, and thermal

management areas, as well as in sports and recreation. The authors further stated that

research on particle-reinforced cast AMCs took root in India during the 1970’s,

attained industrial maturity in the developed world and is currently in the process of

joining the mainstream of materials. The paper presented an overview of AMC

material systems on aspects relating to processing, microstructure, properties and

applications.

Rahman et al. (2012) presented the necessity for the design of efficient load bearing

materials together with superior functional properties, high strength and stiffness that

can be tailored for specific applications where monolithic materials and conventional

alloys cannot be used, has given impetus to the development of modern composites.

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They noted that the development of composite technology spanning several decades

has given rise to an exotic class of materials whose characteristics could be tailored

for specific applications to enhance mechanical and other properties besides,

incorporating easy machinability by conventional machining methods using

conventional tools. The paper deals with the charting of a strategy for the application

of aluminium metal matrix composites citing the specific reasons for selecting the

particular material system to its functionality as a worthy candidate meriting its

applications. A brief review of the modern composites is followed by a general

discussion and logical choice of a particular material system that has gained wide

acceptance. With this knowledge as the basis, the authors noted that the materials

engineer is well placed to create innovative designs that are having vast

improvements over its predecessor designs and achieve not only fast effective gains,

but also material enhanced properties.

2.9 CONCLUSION FOR LITERATURE SURVEY

 Al/SiC MMC was predominantly fabricated by stir casting technique with

particulate sizes ranging up to 30 µm and up to 12 Vol.% of SiC.

 Al/fly ash and Al/TiC MMCs, fabricated by stir casting technique have better

wear properties.

 Al/TiB2 MMCs, fabricated in-situ have hardness and wear resistance higher

than steel matrix.

 Solidification results for Al/TiB2 MMC were found by ProCAST FEA

commercial software.

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