Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Role of magnesium in cast aluminium alloy matrix composites

  • Review
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Wetting between the dispersoid and the matrix alloy is the foremost requirement during the preparation of metal matrix composites (MMC) especially with the casting/liquid metal processing technique. The basic principles involved in improving wetting fall under three categories: (i) increasing the surface energies of the solids, (ii) decreasing the surface tension of the liquid matrix alloy, and (iii) decreasing the solid/liquid interfacial energy at the dispersoid matrix interface. The presence of magnesium, a powerful surfactant as well as a reactive element, in the aluminium alloy matrix seems to fulfil all the above three requirements. The role played by magnesium during the synthesis of aluminium alloy matrix composites with dispersoids such as zircon (ZrSiO4), zirconia (ZrO2), titania (TiO2), silica (SiO2), graphite, aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and silicon carbide (SiC), has been analysed. The important role played by the magnesium during the composite synthesis is the scavenging of the oxygen from the dispersoid surface, thus thinning the gas layer and improving wetting and reaction-aided wetting with the surface of the dispersoid. The combinations of magnesium and aluminium seem to have some synergistic effect on wetting.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. P. K. ROHATGI, R. ASTHANA and S. DAS, Int. Met. Rev. 31 (1986) 115.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. A. MORTENSON and I. JIN, ibid. 37 (1992) 105.

    Google Scholar 

  3. K. G. SATYANARAYANA, R. M. PILLAI and B. C. PAI, in “Handbook of Ceramics and Composites”, edited by NICHOLAS P. CHEREMISINOFF (Marcel Dekker, New York, 1990) p. 555.

    Google Scholar 

  4. S. RAY, J. Mater. Sci. 28 (1993) 5397.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. A. MORTENSON, in “Mechanical and Physical Behaviour of Metallic and Ceramic composites”, edited by S.I. ANDERSON, H. LILHOLT and O. B. PEDERSEN (Risø National Laboratory, Roskilde, Denmark, 1988) p. 141.

    Google Scholar 

  6. GEETHA RAMANI, T. R. RAMAMOHAN, R. M. PILLAI and B. C. PAI, Scripta Metall. Mater. 24 (1990) 1419.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. SUSAN ABRAHAM, B. C. PAI, K. G. SATYANARAYANA and V. K. VAIDYAN, J. Mater. Sci. 25 (1990) 2839.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Idem. ibid. 27 (1992) 3479.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. B. C. PAI, K. G. SATYANARAYANA and P. S. ROBI, J. Mater. Sci. Lett. 11 (1992) 779.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. B. P. KRISHNAN, M. K. SURAPPA and P. K. ROHATGI, J. Mater. Sci. 16 (1981) 1209.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. B. N. KESHAVARAM, A. BANERJEE, M. K. SURAPPA and P. K. ROHATGI, J. Mater. Sci. Lett. 1 (1982) 29.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Hitachi Ltd, “Casting aluminium alloy dispersed with graphite”, Jpn. Kokai Tokkyo Koho, 8073839 June 1980, Chem. Abs. 93 (1980) 93 154488 x.

    Google Scholar 

  13. K. KOMURO and H. SUWA, US Pat. 4207 096 June 1980, Chem. Abs. 93 (1980) 154495 v.

    Google Scholar 

  14. B. C. PAI, S. RAY, K. V. PRABHAKAR and P. K. ROHATGI, Mater. Sci. Eng. 24 (1976) 31.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. P. K. ROHATGI, B. C. PAI and S. C. PANDA, J. Mater. Sci. 14 (1979) 2277.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. TRONTELJI and D. KOLAR, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 61 (1978) 204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. A. BANERJEE, M. K. SURAPPA and P. K. ROHATGI, Metall. Trans. 14B (1983) 273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. F. A. BADIA, Trans. AFS 79 (1971) 347.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. D. J. LLOYD, Int. Mater. Rev. 39 (1994) 1.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. “Aluminium Composites-Information” (Hydro aluminium a.s. Sunndal, Norway, 1992).

  21. R. MEHRABIAN, R. G. RIEK and M. C. FLEMINGS, Metall. Trans. 5 (1974) 1899.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. B. C. PAI, R. M. PILLAI, K. G. SATYANARAYANA and V. S. KELUKUTTY, Trans. Ind. Inst. Metals 45 (1992) 33.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. J. A. CORNIE, H. K. MOON and M. C. FLEMINGS, in “Fabrication of particulates reinforced metal composites”, edited by MASOUNAVE and F. G. HAMEL, ASM International, (Materials Park, OH, 1990) p. 63.

    Google Scholar 

  24. M. K. AGHAJANIAN, M. A. ROCAZELLA, J. T. BURKE and S. D. KECK, J. Mater. Sci. 26 (1991) 447.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Z. A. IBRAHIM, F. A. MOHAMED and E. J. LAVERNIA, ibid. 26 (1991) 1137.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Martin Marietta Corp., US Pat. 471 0348 (1987).

  27. K. R. VAN HORN (ed.), “Aluminium” Vol. I, “Properties, physical metallurgy and phase diagrams” (American Society for Metals, Metals Park, OH, 1971) p. 277.

    Google Scholar 

  28. A. M. KOROLKOV, in “Casting properties of metals and alloys” (Consultant Bureau, New York, 1963) pp. 26, 37.

    Google Scholar 

  29. F. DELANNAY, L. FROYEN and A. DERAYTTERE, J. Mater. Sci. 22 (1987) 1.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. A. D. MCLEOD and C. M. GABRYEL, Metall. Trans. 23A (1992) 1279.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. M. C. SHAJI, V. S. KELUKUTTY, B. C. PAI, K. G. SATYANARAYANA and A. D. DAMODARAN, in “Advanced Composite Materials”, edited by P. RAMAKRISHNAN (Oxford and IBH, New Delhi, 1991) p. 243.

    Google Scholar 

  32. A. BANERJEE and P. K. ROHATGI, J. Mater. Sci. 17 (1982) 335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. P. K. BALASUBRAMANIAN, P. SREENIVASA RAO, B. C. PAI, K. G. SATYANARAYANA and P. K. ROHATGI, in “Solidification structure in cast metal matrix composites”, edited by P. K. ROHATGI (TMS Publications, Indiana, USA, 1990) p. 181.

    Google Scholar 

  34. B. C. PAI, R. M. PILLAI, P. K. BISWAS, M. C. SHAJI and K. G. SATYANARAYANA, in “Proceedings International Conference on Aluminium, Aluminium-85” (Secretariat INCAL-85, New Delhi, 1986) p. 299.

    Google Scholar 

  35. H. SRINIVASA RAO, B. C. PAI, P. L. VINOD, R. MANOJ and S. S. SREEKUMAR, Pract. Metall. 31 (1994) 190.

    Google Scholar 

  36. “Synthesis of aluminium alloy matrix composites”, Internal Report, Regional Research Laboratory, Trivandrum (1986).

  37. T. P. MURALI, M. K. SURAPPA and P. K. ROHATGI, Metall. Trans. 13B (1982) 485.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. A. MUNITZ, M. METZGER and R. MEHRABIAN, ibid. 10A (1979) 1491.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. B. F. QUIGLEY, G. J. ABBASCHIAN, R. WOUNDERLIN and R. MEHRABIAN, ibid. 13A (1982) 93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. K. SUGANUMA, T. OKAMOTO, T. HAYAMI, Y. OKU and N. SUZUKI, J. Mater. Sci. 23 (1988) 1317.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. P. K. GHOSH and S. RAY, in “Cast reinforced metal composites”, edited by S. D. FISHMAN and A. DHINGRA (ASM International, Metals Park, OH, 1988) p. 71.

    Google Scholar 

  42. C. G. LEVI, G. J. ABBASCHIAN and R. MEHRABIAN, Metall. Trans. 9A (1978) 697.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. M. K. SURAPPA and P. K. ROHATGI, J. Mater. Sci. 16 (1981) 983.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. C. H. LI, L. NYBORY, S. BENGISSON, R. WARREN and I. OLEFJOREL, in “Interfacial phenomenon in composite materials '89”, edited by F. R. JONES (Butterworths, London, 1989) p. 253.

    Google Scholar 

  45. D. J. TOWLE and C. M. FRIEND, J. Mater. Sci. 27 (1992) 2781.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. LIU YAOHNI, HE ZHENMING, YU SIRONG, DONG GUITIAN and LI QINGCHUN, J. Mater. Sci. Lett. 11 (1992) 2781.

    Google Scholar 

  47. J. C. LEE, K. N. SUBRAMANIAN and Y. KIM, J. Mater. Sci. 29 (1994) 1983.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. D. J. LLOYD and I. JIN, Metall. Trans. 19A (1988) 3107.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. R. WARREN and C. H. ANDERSSON, Composites 15 (1984) 101.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. D. J. LLOYD, Compos. Sci. Technol. 35 (1989) 159.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. H. RIBES and M. SUERY, Scripta Metall. 23 (1989) 705.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. H. RIBES, M. SUERY, G. L. ESPERANU and J. G. LEGOUX, Metall. Trans. 21A (1990) 2489.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. S. R. NUT and R. W. CARPENTER, Mater. Sci. Eng. 75 (1985) 169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. L. SALVO, G. L. ESPERANCE, M. SUERY and J. G. LEGOUX, ibid. A177 (1994) 173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. P. S. ROBI, B. C. PAI, K. G. SATYANARAYANA, S. G. K. PILLAI and P. PRABHAKAR RAO, Mater. Charact. 27 (1991) 11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. K. SUKUMARAN, S. G. K. PILLAI, R. M. PILLAI, V. S. KELUKUTTY, B. C. PAI, K. G. SATYANARAYANA and K. K. RAVIKUMAR, J. Mater. Sci. (In press).

  57. GEETHA RAMANI, R. M. PILLAI, B. C. PAI and K. G. SATYANARAYANA, Scripta Metall. Mater. 28 (1993) 405.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. P. K. GHOSH and SUBRAT RAY, Ind. J. Technol. 26 (1988) 83.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. GEETHA RAMANI, R. M. PILLAI, T. R. RAMAMOHAN and B. C. PAI, Composites 22 (1991) 143.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. GEETHA RAMANI, R. M. PILLAI, B. C. PAI and K. G. SATYANARAYANA, J. Mater. Sci. Lett. 12 (1993) 1117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Regional Research Laboratory (CSIR), 695019, Trivandrum, India

    B. C. Pai, Geetha Ramani, R. M. Pillai & K. G. Satyanarayana

Authors
  1. B. C. Pai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Geetha Ramani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. M. Pillai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. G. Satyanarayana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pai, B.C., Ramani, G., Pillai, R.M. et al. Role of magnesium in cast aluminium alloy matrix composites. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE 30, 1903–1911 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00353012

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00353012

Keywords

Search

Navigation