Producibility of AA2014-B4C metal matrix composite by powder metallurgy and infiltration method, characterization and research of wear

In this study, infiltration and powder metallurgy methods were used in order to produce metal matrix composite material with particle reinforced. Powder metal AA 2014 alloy produced by gas atomization in powder metallurgy method which has 90,66 µm of mean particle size and B4C powder whose size smaller than 10 µm' were used in this study. AA 2014 - B4C powders, were mixed for one hour in 1, 2, 4, 8 % at reinforced ratio, respectively. Particle size of reinforced element B4C was determined as 53 µm in infiltration method. B4C powder was reinforced into the liquid matrix at 1, 2, 4, 8 % ratios, 750 °C temperatures, under the vacuum of 550 mmHg for 3 minutes period.In the PM studies, optimum pressing force was selected as 700 MPa at powder pressing of AA 2014 - B4C. Experimental samples were carried out sintering at 560 °C temperatures for one hour period. All of the experimental samples used in experimental studies were produced at specified fixed pressing pressure (force) and sintering temperature. The density values of produced samples by PM and infiltration method were measured before and after sintering. It is concluded from the experimental results increases density particularly by decreases porosity combining grain related to sintering temperature and time.When the results of hardness were investigated, in the samples which were produced by PM and infiltration methods, an increased hardness determined according to increasing the reinforced ratio.Samples produced by the method of infiltration, on the pin-on disk sliding speed 1 m/s , wear testing was performed with a 30 N load and 1500 meters scrolling distance. Wear ratios determined as weight loss at all of the samples.Considering the studies conducted, according to increasing the reinforced ratio, both in the infiltration process and composite materials produced by powder metallurgy, reinforce/matrix interface interaction and the other parameters were investigated in terms of macro structure and mechanical properties. In order to determine these effects, Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) were used.