Optimisation of SiC Particulate Distribution in Reinforced Al-Si-based Composites

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Abstract
Master alloys of Al-7Si, Al-12Si and Al-17Si alloys, all containing 15 vol%SiC of 10 micron SiC particulate, were diluted to 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 vol%SiC levels of reinforcement. The 0.5 kg charges were unidirectionally solidified upwards at a velocity of 1 mm/s. The observed settling velocities of the particulate (in the order of mm/s) indicate that settling does not follow a simple hindered Stokes' sedimentation rule. The observations are rationalised on the basis of particulate clustering in the melt.