Title: Effects of sintering on microstructure and hardness of powder injection moulded aluminium composites

Authors: Tapany Patcharawit; Benchawan Inpanya; Nutthita Chuankrerkkul

Addresses: School of Metallurgical Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, University Avenue, Meung, NakhonRatchasima, 30000, Thailand ' School of Metallurgical Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, University Avenue, Meung, NakhonRatchasima, 30000, Thailand ' Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

Abstract: This research investigated effects of sintering temperature over 660-700°C on microstructure and properties of powder injection moulded silicon carbide (10 vol.%)-reinforced aluminium composites. Mixed powder of 55% solid loading was prepared by ball milling and then injected at 170°C moulding temperature before sintering in a nitrogen atmosphere. Results showed that composite microstructures possessed uniform distribution of silicon carbide particulate in the aluminium matrix. Increasing sintering temperature slightly increased the grain size, density and macro and nano-hardness values. Furthermore, the reduction of nitrogen gas flow rate from 1.0 to 0.5 l/min during sintering significantly increased porosity and decreased hardness of the aluminium composite.

Keywords: aluminium composites; powder injection moulding; PIM; sintering temperature; microstructure; nanohardness; hardness; silicon carbide particulate; SiC; grain size; density; nitrogen gas flow rate; porosity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2014.060318

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2014 Vol.5 No.2, pp.151 - 158

Received: 03 Sep 2012
Accepted: 27 Apr 2013
Published online: 17 May 2014 *

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