Synthesis and characterisation of free standing, one­dimensional, Al–SiC based functionally gradient material

Abstract

In the present study, an aluminium–silicon carbide based functionally gradient material was successfully synthesised using a new technique termed here as gradient slurry disintegration and deposition process. The gradient of SiC was successfully established using this technique for 21 wt-%SiC. The results were confirmed using microstructural characterisation techniques, microhardness measurements, and wear rate determination. The results further revealed that an increase in the weight percentage of silicon carbide particulates along the deposition direction lead to a concurrent increase in porosity, degree of clustering, and microhardness while the nature of silicon carbide/aluminium interfacial integrity remained the same. The results of wear rate determination indicated that a difference of ∼9.53 vol.-%SiC on the opposite faces of the functionally gradient material led to the wear resistance increasing to ∼31.5× that of the high aluminium end. An attempt is made to interrelate the processing methodology, microstructure, microhardness, and wear rate results obtained in the present study.