ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF PARTICULATES IN CAST METAL-MATRIX COMPOSITES

This paper is concerned with the reporting of the distribution of part iculates in the casts prepared from bulk ingots of metal matrix compos ites. Based on the actual determination of the volume fraction of part icles (VFPs) in two different casts (mold) geometry (L and J shaped), effect of sharp corners and curvatures and the boundaries of the mold on the distribution of particles in the cast has been studied. It is o bserved that the actual distribution of volume fraction of particles v aries quite significantly from one location of the cast to the other. depending on the actual cast geometry. Microhardness values are also m easured and found to follow the same pattern of variation as the volum e fraction of particles (VFPs).