Hardness and Microstructure of Mixed Al-CNF Powder Extrusion

In this study, mechanical properties and microstructures of extruded aluminum matrix composites were investigated. The composite materials were manufactured by two step methods: powder metallurgy (mixture of aluminum powder and carbon fiber using a turbular mixer, pressing of mixed aluminum powder and carbon fiber using a cold isostatic pressing) and hot extrusion of pressed aluminum powder and carbon fiber. For the mixing of Al powder and carbon fibers, aluminum powder was used as a powder with an average particle size of 30 micrometer and the addition of the carbon fibers was 50% of volume. In order to make mixing easier, it was mixed under an optimal condition of turbular mixer with a rotational speed of 60 rpm and time of 1800s. The process of the hot-extrusion was heated at 450°C for 1 hour. Then, it was hot-extruded with a condition of extrusion ratio of 19 and ram speed of 2 mm/s. The microstructural analysis of extruded aluminum matrix composites bars and semi-solid casted alloys were carried out with the optical microscope, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. Its mechanical properties were evaluated by Vickers hardness and tensile test.