• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.163-178
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• 2001

The squeeze infiltration process is potentially of considerable industrial importance. The performance enhancements resulting from incorporation of short alumina fiber into aluminum are well documented. These are particularly significant for certain automobile components. Aluminum matrix composite automotive parts, such as diesel engine pistons or engine blocks are produced using squeeze casting apparatus or pressure die-casting apparatus. But the solidification process gets complicated with manufacturing parameters and the factors for porosity formation have not fully understood yet. In this study the formation of porosity during squeeze infiltration has been studied experimentally to achieve an improved understanding of the squeeze infiltration process for manufacture of short-fiber-reinforced components, particularly the mechanism of porosity formation. Al-based MMCs produced under a range of conditions were examined metallographically and the porosity characterised;a kind of matrix, an initial temperature of melt, and a volume fraction of reinforcement. The densimetry and the microscopic image analysis were done to measure the amount of porosity. A correlation between manufacturing parameters and defects was investigated through these.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.188-194
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• 2001

Metal matrix composites with whisker reinforcements have significant potential for demanding mechanical applications including defense, aerospace, and automotive industries. Especially, metal matrix composites, which are reinforced with aluminum borate whisker, have been used for the part of piston head in automobile because of good specific strength and wear resistance. Aluminum alloy-based metal matrix composites with whisker reinforcements have been produced using squeeze casting method, which is kind of an infiltration method. In this study, AC4CH-based metal matrix composites with $Al_{18}B$_4$O_{33}$ reinforcement have been produced using squeeze casting method, after T6 heat treatment, we evaluated mechanical properties of matrix and MMC composite were evaluated.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.523-536
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• 1996

This paper relates to fabrication processing analysis of metal matrix composites by the injection of liquid metal into a fibrous preforms. One dimensional heat transfer analysis during squeeze infiltration process of aluminum base composites has been studied. An analysis method was investigated for the temperature distribution, infiltration velocity and melt infiltration characteristics with the commercial preform with short fiber array. When molten metal is infiltrated in a fibrous preform with random orientation, phase transformation will be occurred in a region such as molten metal, solidified region, preform region and infiltration composites region. a mathematical modelling for a solidification phenomena in fabrication process of metal matrix composites using a squeeze infiltration technique was investigated by the basic relations for liquid metal into a fibrous preform. The temperature distribution of theoretical results was compared with experimental data.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.195-198
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• 2000

The process of squeeze casting for metal matrix composites (MMCs) has been simulated numerically by using finite difference method. The governing equations to describe fluid flow through porous medium and heat transfer are applied to two dimensional model which is similar to a real system. A computational code has been developed to solve this problem. The influence on infiltration kinetics and solidification time of several parameters is investigated. Cooling curves and temperature distribution with time and position is also shown. The result can be used to design the squeeze casting for MMCs.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.402-410
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• 1997

Developing a salt core for squeeze casting process, two different salt cores(pure salt core and mixed salt core) were fabricated and investigated. Pure salt core was composed of 100% NaCl and mixed salt core was made by mixtures of NaCl with MgO(1%), $Na_2B_4O_7$(2%), and talc(1%) as a binder or a strengthening agent. Salt cores were compacted to various theoretical density, heat treated, and then squeeze-cast with molten Al alloy(AC8A). The compression strength of salt cores were measured and the squeeze-cast products were examined for shape retention, infiltration of molten metal into the cores, and microstructures. The shape of salt core compacted at above 75% of the theoretical density was maintained stably. The higher theoretical density of salt cores gave higher compression strength, and the compression strength of mixed salt core was higher than that of pure salt core. Namely at 90% theoretical density, the compression strength of mixed salt core was $6.3 kg/mm^2$, compared to $4.6 kgmm^2$ for pure salt core. At a squeeze casting pressure of $1000 kg/cm^2$, molten Al alloy was infiltrated into pure salt core of under 85% of the theoretical density. At squeeze casting pressure of $1000 kg/cm^2$, only mixed salt core above 90% of the theoretical density were valid, but the shape of the core was altered in the case of pure salt core at 90% of theoretical density. A key factor for developing a salt core for squeeze casting process was estimated as the ultimate compressive strength of salt core.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.412-419
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• 2008

Creep behavior of the squeeze infiltrated AS52 Mg matrix composites reinforced with 15 vol% of aluminum borate whiskers($Al_{18}B_4O_{33}w$) fabricated squeeze infiltration method was investigated. Microstructure of the composites was observed as uniformly distributed reinforcement in the matrix without any particular defects of casting pores etc.. Creep test was carried out at the temperature of 150 and $200^{\circ}C$ under the applied stress range of 60~120 MPa. The creep resistance of the composite was significantly improved comparing with the unreinforced AS52 Mg alloy. The creep behavior of composites might be interpreted with the substructure invariant model successfully for the composite. Threshold stress of the composite exist for the creep deformation of the composite. The analysis of the creep behavior of the composite with threshold stress indicated that creep deformation was controlled by the lattice diffusion process of AS52 Mg matrix at given effective stresses and temperatures. Activation energy was also calculated to check lattice diffusion controlled creep behavior of the composite.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1422-1430
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• 1995

Al6061 alloy reinforced with 15 volume% of Saffil fibers was fabricated by squeeze infiltration method. Uniform distribution of reinforcements and good bondings between reinforcements and matrix alloy were found in the microstructure of composites. Comparing with A16061 matrix alloy, tensile strength and elastic modulus of $Al_{2}$O$_{3}$/Al composites were increased up to 26% and 31%, respectively. Cyclic deformation and fatigue behavior of $Al_{2}$O$_{3}$/Al metal matrix composites were studied. The specimens were cycled using tension-tension(R=0.1) loading and under load controlled fatigue test. Cyclic stress-displacement curve through fatigue test was obtained. Fatigue strength of $Al_{2}$O$_{3}$/Al composites was about 200 MPa, i.e.0.55 of applied stress level(q). During fatigue test, $Al_{2}$O$_{3}$/Al composites displayed cyclic hardening at all applied stress levels. The most of resultant displacement due to permanent plastic deformation occurred in less than the first 5% of fatigue life. Displacement-to-failure of the fatigue test was smaller than that of the tensile test because of accumulative damage by cumulative plastic deformation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.1619-1629
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• 1995

The Al/Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$ SiC and Al/Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$/C hybrid metal matrix composites (MMCs) were fabricated by squeeze infiltration method. Uniform distribution of reinforcements were found in the microstructure of metal matrix composites. Mechanical tests were carried out under various test conditions to clearly identify mechanical behavior of MMCs, and the wear mechanism of Al/Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$/(SiC or C) hybrid metal matrix composites were investigated. The tensile strength and hardness of hybrid composites was resulted in increasing compared with those of the unreinforced matrix alloy. Wear resistance was strongly dependent upon kinds of fiber, volume fraction and sliding speed. The wear resistance of metal matrix composites was remarkably improved by the addition of reinforcements. Especially, the wear resistance of the hybrid composites of carbon fibers was more effective than in the composites reinforced with alumina and SiC whiskers of reinforcements. This was due to the effect of carbon fiber on the solid lubrication. Wear mechanisms of hybrid composites were suggested from wear surface analyses. The major wear mechanism of hybrid composites was the abrasive wear at low to intermediate sliding speed, and the melting wear at intermediate to high sliding speed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.968-980
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• 1995

Al/Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$/C hybrid metal matrix composites are fabricated by the direct squeeze infiltration method. From the microstructure of Al/Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$/C composites, uniform distribution of reinforcements and good bondings are found. Optimum processing conditions for preforms and squeeze castings are suggested. Mechanical properties, such as elastic modulus, elongation, 0.2% offset yield strength and ultimate tensile strength are obtained. Through the abrasive were test and wear surface analsis, wear behavior and its mechanism of AC2B aluminum and Al/Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$/C composites can be characterized under various sliding speed conditions. Tensile strenght elongation of Al/Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$/C composites are decreased with increasing the addition of carbon fiber. On the contrary, elastic modulus of Al/Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$/C composites is slightly improved compared with that of the unreinforced matrix alloy. The addition of carbon fiber to al/al$_{2}$O$_{3}$/C composites gives rise to improvement of the wear resistance. Specially, carbon chopped fibers play an important role in interfering sticking between the counter material and metal matirix composites. Al/Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$/C composites are suitable to high speed due to solid lubication of carbon. And wear model of Al/Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$/C composites is suggested by the examination of worn surfaces.