Processing of Aluminium-Silicon Alloy with Metal Carbide as Reinforcement through Powder-Based Additive...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Additive Manufacturing
• Composite Materials

Background:

• Powder-based additive manufacturing (PAM) enables precise fabrication of complex components.
• Aluminum alloys are common metal matrices in PAM, often reinforced with oxides, carbides, or nitrides.
• Metal carbides are particularly favored for enhancing mechanical properties in PAM composites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review contemporary research on metal carbide additions to aluminum matrices in PAM.
• To investigate the effects of metal carbides on aluminum matrix composites fabricated via PAM.
• To identify challenges and future research scopes in this field.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of powder-based additive manufacturing processes.
• Analysis of studies incorporating metal carbides (MCs) into aluminum matrices.
• Examination of material properties and fabrication techniques.

Main Results:

• Metal carbide additions significantly influence the mechanical properties of aluminum matrix composites produced by PAM.
• Various PAM techniques are employed for fabricating these composites, each with specific advantages.
• Understanding the interplay between MC type, PAM process, and resulting properties is crucial.

Conclusions:

• Metal carbide reinforcement is a promising strategy for advancing aluminum matrix composites in PAM.
• Further research is needed to optimize fabrication processes and fully exploit the potential of MCs.
• PAM of MC-reinforced aluminum composites holds significant potential for applications in aerospace, automotive, and biomedical fields.