Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have gained significant interest due to their enhanced mechanical properties compared to monolithic metals. Among various types of MMCs, aluminum matrix composites reinforced with silicon carbide particles have shown promising results. This research project focuses on investigating the effect of weight percentage of silicon carbide on the mechanical behavior of aluminum-based MMCs. The fabrication of aluminum-SiC composites was carried out using the stir casting method, where varying weight percentages of SiC (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) were added to the aluminum matrix. The as-prepared composites were then subjected to a series of mechanical tests to evaluate their tensile strength, hardness, and wear resistance. The results indicated that the addition of SiC particles led to a gradual improvement in the mechanical properties of the composites. Specifically, an increase in the weight percentage of SiC resulted in higher tensile strength and hardness values. This enhancement can be attributed to the effective load transfer from the aluminum matrix to the SiC particles, which helps in resisting deformation and improving the overall strength of the material. Furthermore, the wear resistance of the composites also showed a significant improvement with the addition of SiC particles. This can be attributed to the hardness and abrasion resistance of silicon carbide, which prevents wear and material loss under sliding contact conditions. The wear tests revealed that composites with higher SiC content exhibited lower wear rates, indicating the potential of these materials for applications requiring good wear resistance. Overall, the findings of this study highlight the importance of the weight percentage of silicon carbide in determining the mechanical behavior of aluminum-SiC composites. The results demonstrate that optimizing the SiC content can lead to enhanced mechanical properties, making these composites suitable for various engineering applications where high strength, hardness, and wear resistance are required. Future research directions could involve exploring the effect of different processing techniques, such as powder metallurgy or in-situ methods, on the properties of aluminum-SiC composites. Additionally, investigating the impact of other reinforcing materials or hybrid reinforcements on the mechanical behavior of MMCs could provide further insights into enhancing the performance of these advanced materials.

Thesis Overview