• 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 Materials Research
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.791-795
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• 2005

In this study, aluminum borate whisker reinforced Mg-3Al-2Ag-1Zn matrix composites were fabricated by the squeeze infiltration technique. The purpose is to develop materials for elevated temperature applications. Microstructure observation revealed successful fabrication of the metal matrix composites, namely no cast defects such as porosity and matrix/reinforcement interface delamination etc. High temperature hardness and creep rupture properties were improved significantly with addition of Ag to the Al borate whisker reinforced Mg alloy composite. $Mg_3Ag$ phase formed during aging heat treatment could improve creep properties of the Mg matrix composites.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.403-409
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• 1999

Mg-Zn-Zr ternary alloys containing 6wt% Zn and (0, 0.4, 0.6)wt% Zr, which is added for grain refinement, can be cast into complex shape by squeeze casting. The influence of Zn and Zr as additional elements on microstructure and mechanical characteristics is investigated by OM, SEM, WDX, XRD and microvickers hardness measurement. The microstructure of Mg-Zn-Zr alloys consists of primary ${\alpha}-Mg$ and MgZn eutectic compound between dendrites. The grain size is decreased from $136{\mu}m$ to $97\;{\mu}m$ by Zr addition, resulting in that the hardness is increased from 42Hv to 59Hv. Furthermore, the grain size is changed to $83{\beta}$ and the hardness is increased to 65Hv by additional infiltration pressure. These results indicate that the Zr addition and additional infiltration pressure are effective for grain refinement acting as an important factor to increase the hardness. The increment in hardness by the Zr addition is slightly larger than that by the additional infiltration pressure.

• 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.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.268-272
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• 2008

Interfacial characteristics of aluminum borate whisker reinforced AS52 matrix composite was investigated. Peak hardness of AS52 composite was obtained aging at $170^{\circ}C$ for 15h and the aging process was accelerated by the presence of the aluminium borate whisker. The MgO layer, which was the interfacial reaction product between the reinforcement and the Mg matrix, was produced with 20 nm thickness in as-cast condition. As the aging time increased, the thickness of the interfacial reaction layer increased to 50 nm in peak aged condition. The nano-indentation test results indicated that the strength of interface was improved by the aging but over-aging degraded the reinforcement and decreased the interfacial strength which resulted in the decrease of overall composite strength.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2001.06d
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• pp.319-324
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• 2001

A finite element model for the process of squeeze casting for metal matrix composites (MMCs) in cylindrical mold is developed. The fluid flow and the heat transfer are the fundamental phenomena in the squeeze casing process. To describe heat transfer with solidification of molten aluminum, the energy equation in terms of temperature and enthalpy are applied to two dimensional axisymmetric model which is similar to the experimental system. And one dimensional flow model is employed to simulate the transient metal flow. The direct iteration technique was used to solve the resulting nonlinear algebraic equations. A computer program is developed to calculate the enthalpy, temperature and fluid velocity. Cooling curves and temperature distribution during infiltration and solidification are calculated for pure aluminum. The temperature is measured and recorded experimentally. At two points of the perform inside and one point of the mold outside, thermocouple wire are installed. The time-temperature data are compared with the calculated cooling curves. The experimental results show that the finite element model can estimate the solidification time and predict the cooling process.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.2104-2113
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• 2002

A finite element model is developed for the process of squeeze casting of metal matrix composites (MMCs) in cylindrical molds. The fluid flow and the heat transit. are fundamental phenomena in squeeze casting. To describe heat transfer in the solidification of molten aluminum, the energy equation is written in terms of temperature and enthalpy are applied in an axisymmetric model which is similar to the experimental system. A one dimensional flow model simulates the transient metal flow. A direct iteration technique was used to solve the resulting nonlinear algebraic equations, using a computer program to calculate the enthalpy, temperature and fluid velocity. The cooling curves and temperature distribution during infiltration and solidification were calculated fer pure aluminum. Experimentally, the temperature was measured and recorded using thermocouple wire. The measured time-temperature data were compared with the calculated cooling curves. The resulting agreement shows that the finite element model can accurately estimate the solidification time and predict the cooling process.