A PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ALUMINUM ALLOY COMPOSITES REINFORCED WITH FINER SIZE HARD PARTICLES

摘要

The present invention describes a process based on liquid metallurgy technique for dispersion of fine ceramic particles (as low as 5 µm) up 20 wt.% in an aluminium mett through specially designed mechanical stirrer which provides both mixing and shearing action in the melt during particle addition. The particles are chemically treated firstly with HCI solutions and then with borax solution followed by drying and firing at 900 to 1000°C prior to introduction in the melt to attain thin coating of sodium borosilicate which improves the wetability of the particles with melt. Uniform distribution of particle with good bonding is achieved in the composite processed through this invention. The processed composite could be cast using any of the conventional and non-conventional casting techniques.