The Effect of Electroless Cu Coating of SiC Particles on the Mechanical Properties of Al6061 based Cast Composite
Mohamed Zakaulla1, A. R. Anwar Khan2, P. G. Mukunda3
1Mohamed Zakaulla, Mechanical, Ghousia college of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
2Dr.A.R. Anwar Khan, mechanical, Ghousia college of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
3Dr. P.G.Mukunda, Mechanical, Nitte institute of technology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Manuscript received on March 11, 2014. | Revised Manuscript received on March 15, 2014. | Manuscript published on March 25, 2014. | PP:8-13 | Volume-2 Issue-5, March 2014. | Retrieval Number: E0669032514/2014©BEIESP
Open Access | Ethics and Policies | Cite
© The Authors. Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Al6061 – SiC Composites with varying wt% of uncoated and copper coated SiC particles reinforced were prepared through stir casting technique. SiC particles were coated with copper by Electroless deposition method. The effect of PdCl2 concentration and time of stirring of the activated particles in electroless solution are reported. It is observed that density, hardness and Tensile strength increases with increase in wt% of SiC. It was also found that Copper coated SiC particles reinforced composite showed considerable improvement with respect to density, hardness and Tensile strength in compare to uncoated SiC composite due to improved wettability and better interfacial bonding. Fracture surface of tensile specimen was examined under SEM, which revealed a dimple formation, areas of brittle fracture, voids and fractured particles. Copper coating on SiC particles improved the ductility due to better interface bonding.
Keywords: Coated SiC, Electroless, Interface, Stir casting, Wettability.