• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.195-206
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• 1997

AC8A matrix composites reinforced with Ni-aluminide were fabricated by squeeze casting process, and the characteristics and nature of the growth of Ni-aluminide phases at the interface between nickel and aluminurn were investigated. In the as-cast composites, the reaction layer between Ni skeleton and aluminum matrix was found to be $NiAl_3$, regardless of the casting temperatures and the kinds of preforms. During high temperature solution treatment the $NiAl_3$ layer grew and formed new $Ni_2Al_3$ layer. Because of presence of the porosity formed by Kirkendall effect at the interface between $NiAl_3$ and aluminum matrix, the tensile strength of composites was inferior to that of AC8A matrix alloy. However, the composites exhibited superior wear resistance due to the formation Ni-aluminide intermetallic phases. Composite A, of which Ni skeleton was fully transformed into Ni-aluminide, shows better wear resistance than that of composite B which still possessed some unreacted Ni skeleton.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.132-140
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• 1996

Both cast and extruded composites of SiC whisker reinforced 6061 Al alloy matrix were fabricated by high pressure infiltration of the alloy melt into the SiC preform and subsequent hot extrusion of the composite ingots. The micro structures, age hardening behavior and mechanical properties have been examined on the both cast and extruded composites of SiCw/6061. The cast composites of SiCw/6061 were obtained in which SiC whiskers were randomly oriented. Hot extrusion of these cast composites lead to alignment of the whisker in the direction of extrusion. Strengthening effect of whisker in the extruded composites is lower than that of the cast composites. The cast composites of SiCw/6061 showed higher thensile strength and lower elongation than extruded composites of SiCw/6061 at all testing temperatures. Lower tensile strength and higher elongation of the extruded composites were attributable to fine grain structures in which grain boundary sliding occruued preferentially at elevated temperatures.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.419-428
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• 1994

The microvickers hardness and microstructure of Fe/Al composite fabricated by squeeze casting method were investigated. Pure Al and A356 Alloy were chosen for the matrix composition and Fe preform was fabricated with sintered Fe powder at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 30min. under hydrogen atmosphere. Experimental variables were included preheating temperature, melt temperature and applied pressure. Analysing the experimental result concerning microstructure of fabricated composites, Fe/A356 composite showed improved microstructure at $600^{\circ}C$ melt temperature and $350^{\circ}C$ preform preheating temperature in Fe distribution and Infiltrated distance. The results of EDX and XRD showed that the interfacial zones of Fe/Al composite were composed of non-equilibrium intermetallic layers[$(Al_5Fe_2)_x$, $Al_{13}Fe_4m\;Fe_3Al$, FeAl]. The microvickers hardness of Fe/Al composite showed higher value than Fe/A356 composite in interface.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 1997

SiC whisker and $Al_2O_3-SiO_2$ short fiber reinforced AC8A, AC8B and AC8B(J) marix composites were fabricated by squeeze casting method. Preform deformation, change of reinforcement volumefraction and formation of macro-segregation in two composites were investigated by using micro Vickers hardness test, analysis of macro and micro structures with OM, SEM and EDAX. $Al_2O_3-SiO_2$ short fiber preform manufactured with 5% $SiO_2$ binder in this study was considerably deformed and cracked, nevertheless, the short fibers were distributed homogeneously in the composites. In SiC whisker reinforced composites, on the other hand, preform deforming and cracking were not occurred, however, macro segregation zone formed along the infiltration routes by interface reaction during infiltration of molten metal into the preform was observed at center-low area in the composites. The decrease of hardness in the macro segregation zone resulted from the depletion of Si and Mg atoms.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2000

Squeeze casting was performed to fabricate the SiC whisker reinforced magnesium matrix composites, and the suitability of the squeeze casting for the production of the sound composites was determined by micro/macro-structures observations and tensile test. The two-directional infiltration of the melt and the removal of air during infiltration using the devised mold were necessary to produce the composites. The pressure of 100 MPa was effective for the production of composites with the SiC whisker volume fraction of 30%, but the pressure should be lower than 50 MPa in case of below 20% in the volume fraction. The SiC whiskers in the squeeze cast composites were randomly and densely aligned, and the SiC whiskers/magnesium interfaces were continuously well-bonded. The elastic modulus, 0.2% proof stress and tensile strength in the composite were about 2.5times, l0times and 4times as large as those of magnesium, respectively, indicating that the squeeze casting sufficiently provides the high strength magnesium composites reinforced with SiC whiskers.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.524-531
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• 1993

Dispersion behaviors of SiC particles and microstructures in Al-2%Si/SiCp composite prepared by Rheo-compocasting were studied with change of fabrication conditions(slurry temperature, agitation time) and additions of Mg($0{\sim}3wt.%$). Also, the microhardness change of matrix, interface and total in composites were examined with additions of Mg($0{\sim}3wt.%$). The dispersion of particles in the composites became relatively homogeneous with increase of Mg additions, agitation time and decrease of slurry temperature. Rate of occupied area by particle in matrix was increased as increase of Mg additions due to improvement of wettability between SiC particle and matrix. A favorable composites were obtained by melting under Ar atmospheric SiCp injection and bottom pouring system. According to the analysis of X-ray diffraction, $Mg_2Si$, $Al_4C_3$, $SiO_2$ and MgO, etc, intermetallic compounds were formed by chemical interreaction at interface of matrix and particles. The microhardness of interface is higher than that of matrix due to more strengthening of above intermetallic compounds. It was considered that the total hardness of the composites is improved by dispersing of SiCp and addition of Mg.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.441-449
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• 1993

SiC particulate reinforced magnesium matrix composites were fabricated by melt stirring method. The effet of several factors on mechanical properties and the efficiency of melt stirring method from the viewpoint of these properties were investigated. The tensile strength increased and the elongation decreased with decrease of the particle size or the increase of the paticulate volume fraction for pure magnesium matrix and Mg-5%Zn alloy matrix composites. A longer stirring time improved the tensile strength of these composites. The tensile strength of Mg-5%Ca alloy matrix composites which shows no uniform paticulate distribution was a little lower than that of matrix alloy. Rapid solidification rate is preferred for the improved tensile strength of these composites. The pure magnesium matrix and Mg-5%Zn alloy matrix composites have tensile strength of about 400MPa. This value agrees with the tensile strength of some magnesium matrix composites fabricated by liquid infiltration method or powder metallurgy method at the same volume fraction of reinforcements of whisker or particle. Therefore, the melt stirring method which has the advantages of simple process is considered to be efficient in fabricating magnesium matrix composites.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.359-368
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• 1993

Mg-9wt.%Al and Mg-9wt.%-1.6wt%Zn/SiCp(particle size $40{\mu}m$) metal-matrix-composite specimens were manufactured by rheo-compocasting method, known for its effect of improving the wettability. The ceramic reinforcement particles(SiCp) were dispersed in the semi-solid magnesium alloy matrix slurry being vigorously stirred in a high frequency induction furnace under inert atmosphere. A microstructural study of the dispersed particles in the specimens, prepared under different conditions as regards the time(10min, 20min, 30min) and temperature of the stirring, was made with the aid of optical microscope and SEM. The effect of superheating was also observed. It is revealed that 30 minutes' stirring time of the semi-solid at 40% solid fraction temperature(Mg-9wt.%Al : $590^{\circ}C$, AZ91 : $576^{\circ}C$), as determined by the lever rule, gives a satisfactorily uniform distribution of the particles. The superheating is observed to enhance further the uniformity.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.350-358
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• 1993

Aluminum base composites reinforced with various amount of SiC particles and Mg contents have been investigated by different fabrication method for twenty-years. In this paper, how the decomposition and dissolution behaviors of $SiCp(20{\mu}m)$ in the melt of Al composites arised was studied. As the results, the decomposition and dissolution of SiCp into the melt of Al composites increased with increase of the temperature above $720^{\circ}C$, and holding time at a given melting temperature. Because SiC is thermodynamically unstable in this Al-SiCp composite at temperature above the liquidus, SiCp dissolves and reacts with Al in matrix to form $Al_4C_3$ according to following chemical equation $4Al+3SiC{\rightarrow}Al_4C_3+3Si$, Si decomposed and dissolved from SiCp increases Si content of matrix, while liquidus temperature of matrix decrease with increase of SiC content in matrix. The hardness of SiCp decreased with increase of the melting temperature, the hardness of the matrix /particle interface increased with increase of the melting temperature due to increase of the $Mg_2Si$ and $Al_4C_3$ intermetallic compounds, etc.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.547-554
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• 1993

Aluminum alloy matrix composites reinforced with various amounts of $Al_2O_3$ short fibers have been produced by rheo-compocasting accompanied by hot pressing. When composites reinforced with fibers are produced by rheo-compocasting, S-L process is the most effective method for homogeneous dispersion of fibers. A sound composites with the improved orientation(3 dimension${\rightarrow}$2 dimension) of the fibers and increased volume fraction of them have been fabricated through the hot pressing of the casted composites. Fibers are broken down when rheo-compocasting, hot pressing, and $T_6$ treating. Among them fibers are broken down most heavily in the hot pressing. And even in the case of the composite reinforced with 30 vol% fibers, which showed the hardest fiber break down, aspect ratio(11.6) is higher than critical aspect ratio(10.7). The fiber strengthening effect in the composites has showed upto 573K. As the test temperature increases to the range of 573K, the effect has been higher. The fracture of composites is controlled by fiber from room temperature to 473K, but the fracture of composites is controlled by interface between fiber and matrix alloy above 473K.