STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF FIBER-REINFORCED ZN-27-PERCENT AL-ALLOY BASED CAST MMCS

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) based on a zinc-27% aluminium alloy (ZA -27) were produced using a pressure infiltration technique. Preforms o f alumina fibres and aluminosilicate fibres were used for reinforcemen t. Uniform distribution of fibres and satisfactory interfacial bonding were achieved. UTS, specific strength, hardness and wear resistance w ere improved significantly by the alumina fibre reinforcement, but UTS decreased when using aluminosilicate fibres for reinforcement mainly due to unavoidable clustering of particles in the fibre preforms. Stru cture-property relations have been analysed in all cases.