Production and characteristic analysis of SiO2-reinforced etial 21 based composite materials by pressure infiltration method

Infiltration method is a simple and economic liquid state composite production method. In this study SiO2 reinforced ETIAL21 based composite materials were produced by pressure infiltration method and investigated the effect of production parameters to mechanical properties. Specimens were produced with a furnace which used N2 gas for applying pressure to liquid metal in. As the reinforcement element SiO2 powder with 300µm, 250µm ve 150µm particle size and as matrix material Al2014 aluminum alloy were used. The composite production parameters were determined as infiltration temperature, infiltration pressure and Mg addition to the matrix. Microstructure, intensity porosity relation, hardness and wear resistance of the composites were analyzed. It was identified by means of microstructure images that SiO2 powders shows homogenious distribution. It was understood that infiltration temperature, pressure and Mg addition increases the intensity, hardness and wear resistance of composites but, decrease the porosity.Keywords: Pressure infiltration, Al2014, SiO2, intensity, porosity, hardness, wear resistance