Description
In this study, the effect of microscale alumina (Al2O3) content on the processing, hardness and indentation creep behavior of Sn-Alumina composites was investigated. The composites were processed through the powder metallurgy route specifically powder compaction and extrusion. Microstructural characterization was carried out using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Through indentation creep experiments and analysis, the dominant creep mechanism was identified. It was found that the Vickers hardness of these composites increases with the increase in the volume fraction of Al2O3 as the hardness values went from 14.0 (HV) for the pure unreinforced sample to about 22.4 (HV) for the 30% by vol Al2O3.This was also supported by the grain size as the grains got finer with the increase in alumina content. The Indentation creep results also showed a similar trend as the composites with higher volume fractions of reinforcement showed a better creep resistance to deformation. The porosity and agglomeration effects also increased with an increase in volume fraction of alumina i.e., from 0-30%. The results show Additionally preliminary experimental investigations into the production of a novel 3D printing technique (additive manufacturing) using these materials as active filaments were also carried out.
