On role of stearic acid on morphology of Al–SiC_p composite powders produced by mechanical alloying method

Abstract

In the present study high energy ball mill has been conducted to produce Al matrix composite reinforced with silicon carbide (SiC) at different milling time. To evaluate the role of stearic acid content on powder morphology of Al–SiC composite, the material has been fabricated with different stearic acid content, namely 0·1, 0·5, 1 wt-%. The SEM micrographs taken from Al–SiC composite powder show that the size of composite powders depends strictly on both stearic acid content and milling time. At constant milling time the smaller particles have been observed as well as SiC content increases with increasing stearic acid content. The uniformity of composite powders was so much better as stearic acid content increases.

Keywords:

• COMPOSITE
• AL
• SIC
• MECHANICAL ALLOYING
• STEARIC ACID