Preparation of a Functionally Gradient Aluminum Alloy Metal Matrix Composite Using the Technique of Spray Deposition

Abstract

The 6066Al/SiC_P functionally gradient material (FGM) was successfully prepared via the spray deposition technique accompanied with an automatic control system. The results reveal that the SiC_P weight fraction of the as-deposited preform from the top to the bottom ranges almost continuously from 0 to 30%. The part with the higher SiC_P weight fraction exhibits a relatively smaller density than that with the lower SiC_P weight fraction. However, the microhardness and the porosity increase with the increasing SiC_P weight fraction in the as-deposited preform. The spray deposition technology is promising to produce a wide range of other FGMs.

Keywords:

• Functionally gradient material
• Preparation
• Spray deposition
• 6066Al/SiC_p

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The research described in this article is supported by the National 863 Plan Project of China (2009AA03Z111).