Microstructural characterization and physical properties of tic reinforced al-cu matrix alloy composites

Al - 4 wt. % Cu composites containing 5-20 vol. % of TiC powders in 2 μm size were fabricated using K-Al-F type flux-assisted conventional casting method. The resulting morphologies and compositions of the composites were characterized as a function of TiC volume fraction using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and microhardness tests. The microstructural investigations exhibited reasonably homogeneous distribution of the carbides in Al-4 wt.% Cu matrix alloys. The XRD results of the composite samples revealed the presence of the Al, Al2Cu and TiC phases. In addition, the intensity of the diffraction peaks belonging to the TiC phase gradually increased with the increasing TiC content. Increasing of the volume percent of TiC particles from 5 through 20% contributed to increase in hardness values of Al-Cu based composites.