PROPERTIES AND BEHAVIOUR OF STEEL SLAG REINFORCED AL-SI METAL MATRIX COMPOSITE PREPARED USING STIR CASTING

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) possess significantly improved properties including high specific
strength; specific modulus, damping capacity and good wear resistance compared to reinforced alloys.There has been an increasing interest in composites containing low-density and low-cost
reinforcements. Among various discontinuous dispersoids used, iron powder is one of the most
common and medium-density reinforcements available in large quantities as a solid. Hence,
composites with iron as reinforcement are likely to overcome the cost barrier for widespread
applications in automotive, aerospace and engine applications. It is therefore expected that the
incorporation of iron particles in aluminum will promote properties enhancement at the same time,
has the potential for conserving energy-intensive aluminum and thereby, reducing the cost of
aluminum products. Nowadays particulate-reinforced aluminum matrix composites are gaining
importance because of their low cost with advantages like isotropic properties and the possibility of
secondary processing facilitating the fabrication of secondary components. The present investigation
has been focused on the utilization of abundantly available industrial iron in a useful manner by
dispersing it into aluminum to produce composites by stir casting method.

Keywords: Aluminum-silicon alloys, Metal matrix composite, stir casting, Stirrer speed