LAUSR

The main objective of this investigation is to study the microstructural features and evaluate the tensile strength, hardness, and acidic corrosion resistance of liquid metal stir casted aluminium-silicon carbide (Al-SiC) composite. As reinforcement for the Al alloy matrix, SiC particles were added to the matrix in the percentages of 0%, 10%, and 20%. The microstructure of Al-SiC composite was studied using optical microscope. The effect of addition of SiC particles on tensile strength and hardness of Al-SiC composite was analyzed.. There were significant improvements in tensile strength and hardness for Al–SiC composite reinforced with 20% SiC particles compared to unreinforced Al–SiC composite, and those improvements were of 14.70% and 26.88%, respectively. The evolution of harder SiC islands in the ductile matrix of aluminium alloy reinforce the Al-SiC composite which enhances the strength and hardness of Al-SiC composite. A weight loss method was used to determine corrosion rate. The samples of Al-SiC composite material were immersed in HCl, HNO3, and H2SO4 solutions for immersion times of 30 hours, 56 hours, and 80 hours. It was found that the weight % of reinforcement had the largest contribution to corrosion rate with 49.86% to that of acidic solution with 29.88%, followed by immersion time with 8.85% and acidic solution with a contribution of 29.88% to the corrosion rate. The Al-SiC composite developed using 20 wt. % of SiC particles showed higher corrosion rate due to the interfacial region formed due to the addition of greater wt % SiC particles to the pure alloy.