Physical and mechanical properties of stir-casting processed AA2024/B ₄ Cp composites

Abstract In this study, metal matrix composites of an aluminum alloy (AA2024) and B ₄ C particles with volume fractions 3, 5, 7, and 10 vol% and with sizes 29 and 71 μm were produced using stir-casting technique. The effects of B ₄ C particle content and size of boron carbide on the mechanical properties of the composites such as hardness, 0.2% yield strength, tensile strength, and fracture were investigated. Furthermore, the relation between particle content, microstructure, and particle distribution has been investigated. The hardness of the composites increased with increasing particle volume fraction and with decreasing particle size, although the tensile strength of the composites decreased with increasing particle volume fraction and with decreasing particle size. Scanning electron microscopic observations of the microstructures revealed that dispersion of the coarser sizes of B ₄ C particles was more uniform while the finer particles led to agglomeration of the particles and porosity.