Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Microwave Sintered AA7075/Graphite/SiC Hybrid Composite Fabricated by Powder Metallurgy Techniques

Abstract

In this study, AA7075 matrix hybrid composite containing graphite and SiC particles was fabricated by powder metallurgy techniques. The effect of microwave sintering on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AA7075\u2009+\u20098%graphite+2%SiC hybrid composite was investigated using SEM integrated with EDS, XRD, tensile-compression, hardness, and porosity tests. The results showed that microwave sintered composite mechanical properties were enhanced compared with conventionally sintered composite. Precise microstructure with no agglomerations and clean interfaces without any secondary phases were observed through SEM-EDS and XRD analysis for microwave sintered composite. Along with enhanced mechanical properties, a strain to fracture value of 7.98% was observed in microwave sintered composite. It was, thus, concluded that microwave sintering is preferable to conventional sintering to fabricate hybrid composites with enhanced performances.