Silicon Carbide's Influence on A356 Aluminum Alloy Composites: Mechanical, Thermal, Corrosion, and Microstructural Properties

Description

This dataset supports research on the effects of silicon carbide (SiC) reinforcement on A356 aluminum alloy composites, focusing on mechanical, thermal, corrosion, and microstructural properties. It includes experimental data, tables, figures, and analysis on how SiC content influences tensile strength, yield strength, elastic modulus, thermal conductivity, and corrosion resistance. The dataset provides valuable insights for aerospace, automotive, and medical industries where high strength, stability, and corrosion resistance are critical.

Steps to reproduce

Step 1: Materials Selection Matrix Material: A356 Aluminum Alloy (Composition: Al – 92.05 %, Si – 7 %, Mg – 0.35 %) Reinforcement Material: Silicon Carbide (SiC) particles (varied weight percentages from 10% to 90%) 🔹 Step 2: Sample Preparation via Stir Casting Melting the A356 Alloy: Heat the A356 aluminum alloy in a graphite crucible to 750°C until fully molten. Preheating the SiC Particles: Heat the SiC particles separately at 300°C to remove moisture and improve wettability. Degassing: Introduce a degassing agent into the molten alloy to eliminate gas porosity. Incorporation of SiC: Add preheated SiC particles in a two-step process while mechanically stirring at 300 rpm for 5 minutes to ensure uniform dispersion. Casting: Pour the mixture into a cast iron mold (120 mm × 15 mm diameter) and allow it to cool. 🔹 Step 3: Sample Machining & Preparation Prepare tensile test specimens following ASTM E8/E8M standards. Prepare metallography samples by grinding (300-1000 grit), polishing, and etching with Keller’s reagent. Measure density using Archimedean method (ASTM D290). 🔹 Step 4: Mechanical Property Testing Tensile Testing: Perform tests using a Universal Testing Machine (UTM) to measure ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), and Young’s modulus. Hardness Testing: Conduct Brinell hardness tests (ASTM E10) using a 5 mm ball & 250 kg load. 🔹 Step 5: Thermal Property Analysis Thermal Conductivity Measurement: Use a thermal imaging camera (range: -20°C to 1500°C, sensitivity <0.05°C) to analyze heat transfer. Thermal Expansion Coefficient Measurement: Evaluate thermal expansion reduction with increased SiC content. 🔹 Step 6: Corrosion Analysis Conduct electrochemical corrosion tests using a potentiostat to measure corrosion resistance under varying SiC content. 🔹 Step 7: Microstructural & Chemical Analysis Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM): Analyze the surface morphology and particle dispersion of SiC in A356 alloy. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR): Examine Si-C and Al-O bond formation to study interfacial interactions and chemical bonding. 🔹 Step 8: Data Collection & Analysis Compile data on mechanical, thermal, and corrosion properties in tabular form. Perform statistical analysis to determine the effect of SiC content on material performance. 🔹 Step 9: Interpretation & Reporting Compare results with existing literature on metal matrix composites (MMC). Prepare visualizations, graphs, and trend analysis.

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