ProductionandAge-HardeningBehaviourofBoraxPremixedSiC.pdfVIP

K.K. Alaneme and A.O. Aluko: Production and Age-Hardening Behaviour of Borax Premixed SiC reinforced Al-Mg-Si alloy Composites 80 ISSN 0511-5728 The West Indian Journal of Engineering Vol.34, Nos.1/2, January 2012, pp.80-85 Production and Age-Hardening Behaviour of Borax Premixed SiC reinforced Al-Mg-Si alloy Composites developed by Double Stir-Casting Technique Kenneth K. AlanemeaΨ and Ayotunde O. Aluko b Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, PMB 704, Nigeria a E-mail: kalanemek@yahoo.co.uk b E-mail: alayconsul@ Ψ Corresponding Author (Received 15 June 2011; Revised 30 September 2011; Accepted 13 October 2011) Abstract: The production quality and age-hardening behaviour of Al 6063/SiC particulate composites developed using borax additive and a two-step stir casting was investigated. This was aimed at establishing optimum processing and thermal ageing conditions required for the development of Al 6063/SiCp composites. Al 6063/SiCp composites containing 6, 9, and 12 volume percent of SiC were produced; and samples representative of each composition were o o o subjected to age-hardening treatment at 180 C, 190 C, and 200 C for holding times ranging from 30 to 180 minutes.