한국주조공학회

In the present study, the effects of Al/SiC interface reaction and the formation of Al_4C_3 compounds on the mechanical properties of the Al/SiC composites prepared by squeeze casting were investigated. After squeeze casting, the size of dendrites in Al without whiskers were larger than those with whiskers. The hardness of composite materials (about 72 Hv) was found to be approximating 40% higher than that of matrix metal (29Hv), which gradually increases which heat treatment Time showing maximum hardness at 12hr. The observation of increasing number of compounds in 12hrs heat treatment suggests that these compounds are responsible for the increase of hardness. By X-ray diffraction studies, those compounds were identified as Al_4C_3, (Al, Si). And intensity of Si peak increased. The tensile strengh of composite materials was gradually decresed by heat tretment, which was in contrast to the behavior of hardeness. With incresing heat tretment time, the fracture mode of composite materials was changed from large dimples and pull- out form of fiber to the fracture and rupture foum of fiber.