Manufacturing and characterization of metal matrix composite strips reinforced by continuum filament through thixorolling

• Grant number: 08/03572-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2009
• End date: December 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Manufacturing Processes
• Principal Investigator: Antonio de Pádua Lima Filho
• Grantee: Rafael Shoiti Ikeda
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this research is to obtain metal matrix composite strips utilizing thixorolling processing. The composite strips achieved will be 45 mm in width with a thickness varying from 1.5 mm to 1.8 mm. These metallic composite strips will be processed in a two-high mill which has been instrumented at the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory in the UNESP - Ilha Solteira Campus. The semi-solid material is obtained by pouring the metallic alloy on the instrumented cooling slope. A nozzle made of ceramic material positioned at the lower mill roll receives the mush material and is dragged by this roll to produce the metallic strip. A 0.3 mm diameter 316L stainless wire spool support will be placed at the mill entrance. The experimental apparatus is fitted with five type K thermocouples which will monitor the processing temperatures. This type of processing enables the production of much longer metal matrix composite strips than those based on the usual method of hot hydrostatic pressing (HIPping). The experimental results already achieved in this research utilized Sn/Pb alloys, which are easy to work as they have a low casting temperature and will allow the Research Group to proceed with metallic alloys such as aluminium that have much higher casting temperatures. The effects of processing conditions such as roll speed and the insertion of reinforcement into the strip will be investigated in this Scientific Initiation. The composite strips achieved by thixorolling will be characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopy at AMR/CTA.