1995 Volume 59 Issue 5 Pages 564-570
The pressure infiltration of aluminum and the deformation mechanism of preform were investigated on fiber-reinforced aluminum composites fabricated by squeeze casting. The aluminum borate whiskers and alumina short fibers preforms were prepared as reinforcements. Pressure was applied mechanically by a punch, and the pressure change and the punch speed were measured during the infiltration of molten aluminum into fibers preform.
To analyze the correlation between the applied pressure and the location of infiltration front in preforms, the hardness along the infiltration direction in the composite was measured and the distribution of volume fraction was calculated by the distribution of hardness.
These experimental results agreed well with theoretical analysis developed using D’Arcy’s law. The deformation of fibrous preforms occurred due to compressive stress during infiltration by the molten aluminum.
