Manufacturing of B4C particle reinforced A360 aluminium cellular composite materials by the integration of stir casting and space holder methods

Stir casting method has become prominent for fabrication of metal matrix composites in recent years. This method can be adjusted for casting around space holding particles to obtain cellular composite materials. In this study, a specific method which is a combination of stir casting and space holder techniques were used to produce open-celled A360 aluminium-B4C composite foams with regular sized and distributed pores. Weight ratios of reinforcement particles determined as 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2%. The influences of particle reinforcement on the microstructure and the mechanical behaviour of composite foams were investigated. Microstructures were analysed with optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM). Compression and hardness tests were carried out to observe the effects of reinforcement on mechanical properties. Compression strength properties and hardness of composites increased with the ceramic reinforcement, however the plastic strength of the composite foams showed worsening trend after a certain reinforcement ratio (0.5 wt.%). Energy absorption properties of the composite foams showed parallel trends with compressive strength properties.