Examining The Mechanical Characteristics of Aluminum Alloy Reinforced BORON CARBIDE

Abstract

Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) have become increasingly significant in various industries due to their desirable properties, including wear resistance, low density, high strength, and excellent structural rigidity. These composites are particularly favored in aerospace, military, automotive, marine, and other domestic applications. To enhance the properties of the aluminum matrix, it is reinforced with hard ceramic particles such as SiC, Al2O3, B4C, and others. In this study, aluminum LM6 alloy was selected as the matrix material, with 25-micron-sized boron carbide (B4C) particles chosen as the reinforcement, at varying weight percentages. The composites were fabricated using the sand casting technique. The hardness and impact behavior of the prepared composites were examined. The results showed that the hardness of the LM6 alloy increased, while the impact strength decreased with the addition of B4C particles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs confirmed the uniform distribution of B4C particles within the aluminum alloy.